There is no distinctly American criminal class - except Congress. Mark Twain
My mother worked on the Hill as a secretary to a committee in the late 1930s. She knew a congressman from Boston, a former long-time ward heeler, who was completely illiterate. He always voted according to the direction of the party whip. Mother quoted him saying, “Ah Ril’, it must be a great thing to be able to read and write.”