Though I agree with Roy that government has created a climate by which people like Abramoff will inevitably seek out a way to gain from the system, I take issue with Roy’s (and Anderson-Jackson’s) scope.
I think the blame shouldn’t fall totally on the government. That argument is akin to a criminal defense lawyer’s claim that the accused can’t be blamed for his action because it was the fault of the society in which he grew up and not personal choice.
I think the blame falls on a lack of personal ethic. Whether that be a cultural thing or not, I cannot say. But I think it would be a slight to simply fault the government outright.
