THE IMPACT OF BUSINESS ATTITUDES ON LAWMAKERS IS IMMENSE IN VIEW OF STUDIES INDICATING THAT BUSINESSMEN VIOLATE LAWS THEY CONSIDER ILLEGITIMATE AND SOMETIMES HAVE THE POWER TO DETERMINE, INTERPRET, AND ENFORCE THE LAW. TO CHANGE LAWS OR ATTITUDES, OR BOTH, ONE SHOULD FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE NATION'S ETHICS RATHER THAN TRYING TO ESTABLISH DEFENSES AGAINST WHITE-COLLAR CRIME. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUNISHMENT DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE PUNISHERS ARE PERCEIVED AS LEGITIMATE. IF BUSINESSMEN DO NOT RESPECT OR BELIEVE IN THE LAW, THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO BE AFFECTED BY PUNISHMENT FOR VIOLATING IT. EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT NEITHER REFORMS CRIMINALS NOR DETERS OTHERS, AS IN THE CASE OF TERRORISTS WHO ARE UNDETERRED BY ACTIONS OF A STATE THEY CONSIDER ILLEGITIMATE. BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY PUSHED ECONOMIC COMPETITION INTO THE POLITICAL SPHERE, BUSINESSMEN FOUND THAT GOVERNMENT COULD BE MANIPULATED, THEREBY BECOMING A LESS EFFECTIVE CONTROLLER OF BEHAVIOR. THE IDEOLOGY OF INDIVIDUALISM, ENCOURAGING EACH CITIZEN TO DISREGARD SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE INTEREST OF SELF-GRATIFICATION, ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO ECONOMIC IMMORALITY. STUDIES INDICATE THAT MANY CORPORATE EXECUTIVES AND MANAGERS VIEW BRIBES AND PAYOFFS AS LEGITIMATE BUSINESS FUNCTIONS AND FEEL PRESSURE TO COMPROMISE PERSONAL ETHICS TO ACHIEVE CORPORATE GOALS. CONGRESS MAY BE ABLE TO STIMULATE AMERICAN BUSINESS TO DEVELOP A NATIONAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY BY MAKING WHITE-COLLAR CRIME UNTHINKABLE, BY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE IN BUSINESS TO RESPECT GOVERNMENT AND ENFORCE AND DEVELOP ETHICAL CODES, AND BY ENCOURAGING CONSUMERS AND OTHER VICTIMS OF ECONOMIC CRIME TO ORGANIZE INTO PRESSURE GROUPS. (WJR)