[El Gato]

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.

Then we are truly and completely screwed. The Republic is dead. That's what "earmarks" are all about, as are "welfare", "publicly funded healthcare", and even FHA guaranteed loans. (VA loans are different, you have to do some thing, like risk getting your A$$ shot off, to earn those).

[mc5cents]

The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.

Well we are well past that stage now aren't we? That is about all the congress does these days. Vote on bribes (earmarks anyone). The U.S. government has become nothing more than a conduit for bribes. The things that it does that are truly constitutional are few and far between it seems these days.