Largesse seen from another side

Re “Soft on sleaze?” editorial, May 15

The Times comments that “both houses of Congress have done too little to address the corrupting coziness between legislators and lobbyists that [Jack] Abramoff came to symbolize.” Of course they haven’t been serious because strict rules would severely limit or eliminate the perks that legislators squeeze from lobbyists.

As an engineer in the early space program, I was frequently wined and dined by marketers from companies from whom I purchased components. The largesse flowed freely. Our esteemed congressmen caught on, and the rules governing our conduct gradually became tighter. Eventually we could not even accept sandwiches from contractors. All this while the very same congressmen were flying around the country in company jets, eating at posh restaurants on government contractors’ expense accounts and accepting expensive Christmas gifts. Tends to make one cynical, doesn’t it?

SAM BRUNSTEIN

Prescott Valley, Ariz.