Picking the left pocket or the right pocket: Does it really matter?

Every once in awhile I ponder trying to do a referendum to change the title of City Councilpeople to Bagmen/Bagwomen, although I don't know what then to call the Mayor, Chief Bagman?

The Post is editorializing about the City Council getting in the way of a better "deal" for the city in terms of running the Lottery System. See "Power Play: The D.C. Council is playing games with a fair process."

Apparently the current group with the contract could do a lot better. But the Council is balking that the group created about 9 months ago to get the contract, a group made up of people connected to the current administration, doesn't have much experience.

I think the Post favors cutting in new people.

Either way, it's dirty.

Pigpen, the Charles Schultz drawn character from the Peanuts comic strips.

The more you know about how stuff works in this city, and in fairness to the City of Washington, it's how stuff is done elsewhere as well, the more you feel dirty when you deal with issues surrounding (1) government contracts, (2) land deals involving the city; (3) eminent domain; and (4) certain kinds of zoning matters.

For more on the lottery issue, see these articles from the Post:

-- D.C. Council Tables New Lottery Deal: Members Say They Want More Data
-- Fenty Takes Second Chance on Lottery Contract.

And to understand the system, see:

-- The City as a Growth Machine by Harvey Molotch.