FLASHPOINT for Mar 11, 2007

Sunday, March 11, 2007 | 7:43 a.m.

I had to chuckle when I saw the headline in the Nevada Appeal, the capital newspaper: "Ethics training proposed for Nevada officials, lobbyists." The headline was over a story about a bill that mandates rookie legislators, appointees and lobbyists be inculcated in ethics. This is so silly and so typical of the faux effort by elected officials to demonstrate they are ethical. A course in ethics? Taught by the Ethics Commission? You must be joking. Ethics cannot be taught, nor can common sense be instilled. I can see it now - lobbyists and legislators sitting side by side in a classroom, whispering to each other about the loopholes that will allow them both to continue to be cozy. And then going to dinner afterward.

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