About two weeks ago, Washington DC got its own taste of Occupy Wall Street. While gathering on the Mall, the protesters found their cause temporarily hijacked by another group that turned unruly. By the end of the short-lived event it was pepper-spray wielding museum guard 1, protestors 0.

A friend who was showing around out-of-town visitors happened to be there that day and what he described to me pretty much gels with my understanding of how Occupy Wall Street is unfolding: little organization or coherence, lots of energy and enthusiasm, and did I say, little organization or coherence.

Which is a shame because I have a suggestion I would love to drop in Occupy Wall Street’s inbox: move your show to K Street, home of the nation’s lobbyists.

Sure, I will agree that the investment banks did more than their fair share in bringing down the economy in 2008. But that was then. Now, it is the lobbyists who are bringing down the economy, pressuring law-makers for this and that, most especially the congressional "super-committee" currently on the prowl for $1.2 trillion in deficit savings that must be found by Thanksgiving. Yes, remember that? Those promised savings are what got the budget deficit bill finally passed - a bill that was still deemed not sufficient by Standard & Poor’s, who downgraded the US credit rating shortly thereafter.

There was some question about S&P’s thinking, not to mention its math. The point is, the drama is not over and industry representatives are making it as difficult as possible for Congress to identify a way out of our mess.

The latest bit of silliness is provided by Air Transport Association, which is handing out air-sickness bags to illustrate what it thinks of the proposed taxes for their industry.

As a frequent flyer I am not thrilled about the possibility of seeing the price of a ticket rise - although, let’s face it the airlines are quick to raise prices whenever possible. Remember the sleight of hand they pulled this summer during the breakdown in talks on the Hill over the FAA re-authorization bill. The agency partially shut down operations, including its collection of federal excise taxes on airline tickets.

Consumers could have gotten a break of $60 or so, but airlines stepped in to raise ticket prices by, well $60 or so. And then had the nerve to say the increase will benefit all stakeholders because the airlines will use the money to invest in their product and service.

Back to K Street though: the money to pay our bills will have to come from somewhere. Intelligent conversation and rational minds are needed to identify it. Unfortunately, they can’t be heard for all the shouting, and no I don’t mean the Occupy Wall Street protestors.