Moderately amusing story. I was born and raised in the USA, but my parents emigrated from Italy. About 20 years ago, my brother applied to grad school @ MIT (

Moderately amusing story. I was born and raised in the USA, but my parents emigrated from Italy. About 20 years ago, my brother applied to grad school @ MIT (physics department). Somehow, my father got it in his mind that he would "help out" by contacting the US Congressman in our district (whom he knew somewhat well) so that the Congressman could contact the physics department and facilitate my brother's acceptance. Predictably, my brother blew a head-gasket. He tried explaining that: * he would feel incredible shame if he was accepted due to outside meddling. * the chances of this working to my brother's advantage were approximately zero. * it might even _reduce_ the likelihood of acceptance. The funniest part was that my father was bewildered by our reaction. His attitude was _"I don't understand you people. This is how you get things done!"_