I guess you and I are not in substantial disagreement, Whistle Stop. Where we differ, I think, is that while I am willing, and I think people in positions of authority should be willing to stand up for what we/they believe under any circumstances, I also believe that we and they need to have the wisedom to know when the greater good will not be achieved if this is done.

For instance, had my attorney fought more vigorously in my case, he might have made my fight easier. But in so doing, he might have created a situation in which he would not be able to do the same thing for future clients.

About the politicians speaking on condition of anonymity, I'm not really in a position to know whether or not it was fear of losing votes or fear of reprisals that caused them to do this. But from my own experiences, of which the example I gave before is but one, I consider it a distinct possibility that they did it out of a fear of reprisals. I have worked for the government also. So I have some experience in that area as well.