> This microcosm encapsulates so well government doing all of the wrong things for all of the wrong reasons. How did it come to this?

It's always been like this, and the people pushing the political buttons and pulling the political levers are patting the AG's back now. Special interests have an iron grip on politics in Washington now and the only way to win is to spend the most money.

Don't think this is limited to the Federal government, the States have been infiltrated just as well. Money makes the world go around.