In case you haven't been reading lately, I have been a little irritated at our national legislative assembly of elected officials. Therefore, I was thinking about writing an essay under this title and theme. As I began to think about how I wanted to present it, I did my customary search to see what all was out there on the topic and much to my surprise, I found this op-ed by Chris Lykins of the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise, in Texas:
A Culture Of Corruption Backfires
It pretty much says what I wanted to say, up to a point. And even though it doesn't go quite as far as I would have loved to see it go, it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. Jefferson is just one of many, many that have been entrusted with the affairs of the republic and yet, have defiled the very institution they were elected to serve in.
We all have heard about the case of Duke Cunningham from the MSM, ad nauseum. Anytime its a Republican in the hot seat, the MSM just has to hammer away at it, as if they are the only ones guilty of misconduct. And that's fine. Despite the fact that Cunningham was once an honorable man, he did it, and he should be punished for it. (And he is.)
But here's an interesting tidbit being reported by the AP, about Harry Reid and some free ringside boxing tickets for some top-notch matches. There's even a picture of Reid and McCain at ringside. The report says that McCain reimbursed those responsible, for his. But, there is no mention of Reid doing it. All this was at a time when there wwas an on-going debate about whether or not, there needed to be a federal boxing commission. Obviously the Nevada Commission was an interested party of that debate and wanted to keep the status quo.
Reid's House counterpart, Nancy Pelosi, is no stranger to impropriety, either. Pelosi and Hastert both seemed to have no trouble whatsoever condemning a raid on Jefferson's office, for reasons that are clear to all that have an ounce of sense.
So, I guess what I am trying to say is that corruption knows no party lines. The battle does not pit Republicans against Democrats. It pits the People vs. Congress or Us vs. Them. They work for us. They make laws for us, because we hired them to do so. We have to obey those laws. so should they.
The problem is so out of hand, so spun out of control, it will take a long time to reel it in. But, we have to start somewhere and 2006, is just as good of a time, as any. We, the people, must send a message. This culture of corruption is deeply rooted and it must be dug up, before it chokes off what few freedoms we have left.
I think we deserve better. Don't you think so?
6 comments:
Great post. The Dems truly set themselves up for this backfire. Anyone knows that politicians have been corrupt for years that that out of nearly 700 Congressman and the thousands of aids and administration officials there would be at least dozens morbidly corrupt. No party is insulated from this.
The important part to me has always been the message. For 25 years the GOP has had a great message. Yet there has only been about 3 years during that time period that they have consistently followed that message. Until recently, they have had a good message and then they would not back it up with votes. In the last year they have also come off their message and are now saying very stupid things.
The GOP has 6 months to get their act together from a voting standpoint. They can only save themselves this November by getting back on message and voting on that message.
I think we deserve better, LA . . . but it is also said that Americans deserve who they vote for. We are over populated with politicians, and under populated with statesmen -- true gentlemen who place the good of the nation ahead of their own personal goals and aspirations.
I, for one, am disgusted. Rather than castigating the FBI for doing their jobs, why isn't everyone questioning the honesty and ethics, and demanding answers from one Louisiana congressman?
AICS,
The GOP has 6 months to get their act together from a voting standpoint.
The sad part is, we will all have to ask ourselves whether or not they are sincere and will follow through with all of the promises they will have to make, to keep their jobs. I, myself, will wonder if they will say all of those wonderful things and mean them.
Will they do something?
Will they realize they are the majority party and do what we ask of them?
Or will they get right back to business as usual, feeling like what they have been doing has been validated?
I fear the answers, to these and others.
Mustang,
I hear what you are saying, loud and clear. At some point, people are going to have to get a grip and realize that this isn't funny, anymore. We are at war, we need to maximize our resources and see the threat that looms, and we cannot have Congressmen and Congresswomen outraged over the FBI searching one of their peers' office, because it is openly apparent that he is taking bribes. That's always been a crime, it's still a crime, and they need to be accountable.
To Pelosi's credit she has called for his resignation from the Ways and Means Committee. But, he has yet to. But that doesn mean a damned thing. She ought to be calling for his resignation from Congress, as well. They choose to fight the BS game whereby they want so desperately want to make the other party out to be the corrupt party and yet, they are every bit as guilty.
The most arrogant SOB in the world is a career politician, in any nation. They are consistently rewarded with re-election because they build a machine of backroom deals and bribes. Most do not get caught, because they cover their tracks well.
Hypocrisy has never been on any better display. This what led to the demise of Rome.
I think we're all pretty much disgusted. Hastert and Pelosi have no idea how their mock indignation played out in the hinterlands--who among us has a sanctuary where we can hide stuff and the FBI can't touch it?
And who among all us law-abiding citizens would be threatened with jail if we broke the same laws the illegal immigrants and those hiring them are breaking?
The rule of law is what made us great. We abandon it at our own peril.
AC,
The rule of law is what made us great. We abandon it at our own peril.
Truer words were never said.
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