But then the cynic who occasionally hijacks the keyboard wonders if that isn’t precisely how many laws came to exist in the first place.

Ha, indeed. Will never forget the first time I sat in on a meeting of Louisville's Metro Council. Growing up I thought the good ol boy network, taking turns doing favors for friends sort of government was a peculiar facet of rural, small town life. That somehow it'd be more competent and less corrupt in the city, that some actual careful examination would be going on. Nope. They just have more money and power in the city. Don't know how it is in your neck of the woods, but here the only thing getting careful examination is the donor list.