NEW FEATURE: The Corruption Perception Index

Every two weeks, alternating with our regular OUCH! bulletin on how some current piece of legislation or public policy is being skewed by the power of big money in politics, we will bring you CPI--the Corruption Perception Index. Filled with pithy statistics and surprising comparisons, the CPI will give you a fresh perspective on the facts.

This week, we put New Hampshire voting in the proper context.

• Amount all residents of the state of New Hampshire have contributed to 2000 presidential candidates: $333,000.
• Amount residents of the zip code 10021 on Manhattan's Upper East Side have contributed: $1.4 million.
• Percent of these contributions that would have been stopped by legislation to ban soft money: 0.
• Population ratio, entire state of New Hampshire to the zip code 10021: 10: 1.
• Likelihood that each of the four presidential frontrunners has Wall Street among his top four contributing industries: 100 percent.
• Percent of presidential donors who say they give money to influence government policy: 76.
• Amount the securities industry gave to George W. Bush, their top presidential recipient, who supports partial privatization of Social Security: $2.6 million.
• Current cost of a seat on the New York Stock Exchange: $2 million.
• Amount Wall Street stands to make per year if Social Security is privatized: $1 billion or more.
• Average monthly benefit for a New Hampshire resident on Social Security: $732.