Whether an elected political figure is Democrat or Republican, I do not trust too many these days. Too many scandals, too much bribery, too little ethics for my taste.
That said, it makes me wonder what is going on when President Obama can make such a drastic claim, one that has eluded politicians for decades. To refresh, his words were, "I guarantee you ... we are going to get health care reform done."
That is a very bold statement.
That is why I wonder what is going on…what deals are being made behind closed doors, what additional earmarks must Main Street USA have to pay to buy some votes in the House and/or Senate?
The questions that statement brings to mind are endless.
Anytime an elected politician states that they will guarantee something will happen, mark my words, Main Street USA; deals are being made behind closed doors.
And deals are not always in the best interest of taxpayers; they are in the interest of self-preservation of those who have been elected…those elected to serve in the best interest of taxpayers.
As the national healthcare reform debate trudges on and the left accuses the right of lying and the right accuses the left of lying, somewhere there is truth.
The truth lies in the 1,100-odd page proposed bills sitting in the House and Senate that not one of our elected officals has read in its entirety. At least, not one that I have heard or read about.
That function they leave to their hired or appointed staff.
However, there are a few things that are true or not true.
It is simply not true that our financial well-being depends on healthcare reform. That is, quite simply, glowing rhetoric, taking a bad situation (i.e., the recession) and using it to one's advantage (i.e., trying to sell a bill-of-goods).
It is true that the Congressional Budget Office did not offer any guarantees about being able to hold the line on costs. If I recall, the CBO stated that costs would be unsustainable in the long run.
Those costs, mind you, come out of our collective pockets.
One Trillion-plus Dollars…the equivalent of spending one million dollars a day, each and every day, for one million years (or about 2,740 years).
I am still curious as to who is going to be covered…does coverage extend to non-citizens? Why would Main Street USA pay for them? Why don't they become citizens in order to qualify for such a wonder thing as healthcare coverage?
Another issue that has me wondering what is going on is when on Sunday, one of the president's staff states that a public option is not mandatory and the next day, amid backlash from the most liberal, another emissary basically recants that statement, without fully saying those words.
Appeasement.
Negotiation.
Don't upset the apple cart.
Unfortunately, because of some bad eggs in private business, all business is becoming over-scrutinized and may, possibly, become over-regulated, or, even worse, have the "government" as a competitor.
All the while, those corrupt or less-than-ethical elected officials continue to get away with their shenanigans.
Just to name one example, why is Governor Mark Sanford, who went AWOL, committed dereliction of duty, and used public money for private affairs and purposes still in office?
What happened to ethics in government?
What about their own self-regulation?
When an elected official breaks the laws of the land, why is it that they can continue to function as if nothing happened?
And, how can it be that even those who are busted, plead guilty and are sentenced to time in prison, such as Duke Cunningham, can still collect their cherished (and lucrative) retirement?
Where is the justice?
Those two small examples (as we know, there are many to choose from) do not show equal protection under the law…they show favoritism to people sworn to uphold the law, the Constitution, and to the rights of the people that elected them into office.
Keep our Founding Fathers words in mind, Main Street USA, when deciding what you wish to happen here in America:
"Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases."
Thomas Jefferson
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
Benjamin Franklin
"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty."
John Adams
"Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people, by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power, than by violent and sudden usurpations."
James Madison
"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government - lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."
Patrick Henry
Over for now.
Main Street One
Showing posts with label mark sanford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mark sanford. Show all posts
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
New Jersey: Another Reminder
With the recent arrest of 44 people, including elected officials and even rabbis, added to more than 130 other New Jersey public officials who have either been convicted of, or plead guilty to, a variety of corruption charges in the new millennium, that state showcases the ever-growing problem Main Street USA faces with white collar crime, particularly in the political arena.
We the people elect those who are supposed to be our voice, represent us and look out for us, but with the decay of our political system that is occurring through persons of obvious questionable character where do we turn to find people who possess the moral character and have ethical values that we can trust?
Unfortunately, it appears more and more that the saying “Everyone has their price” is true.
There have been those convicted of accepting bribes in office, generally to reward, through taxpayer money, people or companies giving them the money. Others are paid to turn their backs. And on and on and on.
For these characters it appears that greed is the motivating factor, although there is probably the unquenchable want or need of power that also plays a part.
After Governor Sanford confessed to adultery (which I still contend is a much lesser charge than the dereliction of duty he exhibited by flying off to South America where no one could find him or even knew where he was) I happened to read an article about politicians and how they may end up in this way.
In a nutshell, it is claimed to be ego.
Elected officials generally possess such a huge ego that they need gratification at the highest levels. And, some of them choose sexual trysts as an outlet.
Greed. Power. Ego.
There is, seemingly, no end to the types of corruption and unethical behavior that humans can become involved.
So I ask again, how do we know that the ones we vote for will not end up in this way?
Probably there is no sure way to tell.
But one thing is sure.
The penalties for those public servants who decide to go down that path need to be much more gruesome and which will, hopefully, send a message to all others to 1) cease and desist what you are doing before you are caught and turn state’s evidence over to accept a lesser penalty and 2) do not even think of partaking in anything remotely shady or you will find yourself behind bars with no pension, no safety net, no leniency.
Over For Now,
Main Street One
We the people elect those who are supposed to be our voice, represent us and look out for us, but with the decay of our political system that is occurring through persons of obvious questionable character where do we turn to find people who possess the moral character and have ethical values that we can trust?
Unfortunately, it appears more and more that the saying “Everyone has their price” is true.
There have been those convicted of accepting bribes in office, generally to reward, through taxpayer money, people or companies giving them the money. Others are paid to turn their backs. And on and on and on.
For these characters it appears that greed is the motivating factor, although there is probably the unquenchable want or need of power that also plays a part.
After Governor Sanford confessed to adultery (which I still contend is a much lesser charge than the dereliction of duty he exhibited by flying off to South America where no one could find him or even knew where he was) I happened to read an article about politicians and how they may end up in this way.
In a nutshell, it is claimed to be ego.
Elected officials generally possess such a huge ego that they need gratification at the highest levels. And, some of them choose sexual trysts as an outlet.
Greed. Power. Ego.
There is, seemingly, no end to the types of corruption and unethical behavior that humans can become involved.
So I ask again, how do we know that the ones we vote for will not end up in this way?
Probably there is no sure way to tell.
But one thing is sure.
The penalties for those public servants who decide to go down that path need to be much more gruesome and which will, hopefully, send a message to all others to 1) cease and desist what you are doing before you are caught and turn state’s evidence over to accept a lesser penalty and 2) do not even think of partaking in anything remotely shady or you will find yourself behind bars with no pension, no safety net, no leniency.
Over For Now,
Main Street One
Friday, July 10, 2009
Whom Do You Trust? Whom Can You Trust?
Unfortunately we live in a time of widespread corruption, misuse of power, as well as both lesser and more serious crimes against people and/or society at large.
One of the more unforgivable transgressions, to me (aside from murder), is a politician’s betrayal of the public trust. Here we have a person voted into office by Main Street USA to do a job, and to do it to the best of his or her abilities. And they are compensated well for their work and the benefits, well, those will be the subject of another blog.
This one is about trust.
I do not know of any public official swearing-in ceremony where doing their best includes corruption or bribery or even taking leave for many days with no method of contact.
As an example, Randall “Duke” Cunningham, pled guilty of accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes.
Two million four hundred thousand dollars in bribes.
That is the equivalent of someone working for $60,000 per year for 40 years!
Bribes are, of course, illegal. For Duke, the payoffs came from defense contractors and he did plead guilty.
I believe that a publicly elected official taking money from an organization to gain favor is nothing less than Treason. That is why Duke should not receive his Congressional pension. Last I heard, that is not the case. Elected officials guilty of bribery are still eligible to collect a pension.
One reason is that our government officials have a more limited view of treason than do I. The typical application of that word relating to an elected person is a violation of allegiance to the state or of attempting to overthrow the state or selling secrets of the state.
Those have to do with the state, not the public trust, which is interesting because the public elected the person, not the state. To me, a violation or betrayal of the public trust is clearly a treasonous activity.
So why is Duke eligible to collect pension?
It seems as though our elected officials may believe that they are not necessarily above the law, but above some of the laws. Then again, they are the ones who write the laws…
Why is it that Wall Street and Main Street are expected to follow all of the rules and regulations that are imposed and, if not, face the consequences. And, not that I condone AIG executives receiving lavish bonuses (because I do not), what really is the difference between an AIG exec receiving a bonus and Duke who pled guilty to bribery but remains eligible to receive public funds?
Before I leave Duke’s example there is one other thing I did not understand about the judgment and his sentencing. Duke received $2.4 million in bribes but only had to pay $1.8 million in restitution. That makes it appear as if Duke was able to keep $600,000 of illegally gained money (whether he had spent it or not). What a bonus! (for lack of a better word.)
The above is serious abuse by an elected individual to receive illegal monetary rewards. Duke is but one example. There have been others.
Then there is the better-than-thou type. From all that I have read, Governor Mark Sanford (SC) was a harsh critic, voting to impeach President Clinton from office for lying about having sex with Monica Lewinsky. Sanford said "...what he did in this matter was reprehensible."
Fast forward to June 2009 and Gov Sanford goes AWOL. His aides tell media that they think he went hiking in the Appalachian Trail. As we all now know, he had been in Argentina with another woman.
How is it that Sanford could be so adamant about Clinton being impeached but he feels he should be able to maintain his office?
The apparent difference is that Sanford admitted his affair and Clinton first lied about his. True, that is a difference. However, Sanford was, even worse, AWOL. His duty and responsibility to the state of South Carolina comes first. And, if he is not able to be reached when gone, proper transition of power should have been granted to the Lt. Governor. Anything less is purely dereliction of duty.
In the military, the maximum penalty is a bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of pay and six months confinement duty. Because he did come clean for the affair, but was absent without official leave, perhaps Sanford should not pay the maximum penalty but I do not think that he should retain public office. Nor should he be allowed to collect a pension. He was AWOL.
Corruption charges, dereliction of duty and other acts that violate the public trust should not be rewarded. They should be punished. They should not stay in office. They should not collect pensions. They should be fully and totally accountable to Main Street USA, to the people who elected them.
Perhaps by enforcing appropriate penalties our elected officials will be more honest with Main Street USA and with themselves and can start to earn back the Trust they have lost.
Over For Now,
Main Street One
One of the more unforgivable transgressions, to me (aside from murder), is a politician’s betrayal of the public trust. Here we have a person voted into office by Main Street USA to do a job, and to do it to the best of his or her abilities. And they are compensated well for their work and the benefits, well, those will be the subject of another blog.
This one is about trust.
I do not know of any public official swearing-in ceremony where doing their best includes corruption or bribery or even taking leave for many days with no method of contact.
As an example, Randall “Duke” Cunningham, pled guilty of accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes.
Two million four hundred thousand dollars in bribes.
That is the equivalent of someone working for $60,000 per year for 40 years!
Bribes are, of course, illegal. For Duke, the payoffs came from defense contractors and he did plead guilty.
I believe that a publicly elected official taking money from an organization to gain favor is nothing less than Treason. That is why Duke should not receive his Congressional pension. Last I heard, that is not the case. Elected officials guilty of bribery are still eligible to collect a pension.
One reason is that our government officials have a more limited view of treason than do I. The typical application of that word relating to an elected person is a violation of allegiance to the state or of attempting to overthrow the state or selling secrets of the state.
Those have to do with the state, not the public trust, which is interesting because the public elected the person, not the state. To me, a violation or betrayal of the public trust is clearly a treasonous activity.
So why is Duke eligible to collect pension?
It seems as though our elected officials may believe that they are not necessarily above the law, but above some of the laws. Then again, they are the ones who write the laws…
Why is it that Wall Street and Main Street are expected to follow all of the rules and regulations that are imposed and, if not, face the consequences. And, not that I condone AIG executives receiving lavish bonuses (because I do not), what really is the difference between an AIG exec receiving a bonus and Duke who pled guilty to bribery but remains eligible to receive public funds?
Before I leave Duke’s example there is one other thing I did not understand about the judgment and his sentencing. Duke received $2.4 million in bribes but only had to pay $1.8 million in restitution. That makes it appear as if Duke was able to keep $600,000 of illegally gained money (whether he had spent it or not). What a bonus! (for lack of a better word.)
The above is serious abuse by an elected individual to receive illegal monetary rewards. Duke is but one example. There have been others.
Then there is the better-than-thou type. From all that I have read, Governor Mark Sanford (SC) was a harsh critic, voting to impeach President Clinton from office for lying about having sex with Monica Lewinsky. Sanford said "...what he did in this matter was reprehensible."
Fast forward to June 2009 and Gov Sanford goes AWOL. His aides tell media that they think he went hiking in the Appalachian Trail. As we all now know, he had been in Argentina with another woman.
How is it that Sanford could be so adamant about Clinton being impeached but he feels he should be able to maintain his office?
The apparent difference is that Sanford admitted his affair and Clinton first lied about his. True, that is a difference. However, Sanford was, even worse, AWOL. His duty and responsibility to the state of South Carolina comes first. And, if he is not able to be reached when gone, proper transition of power should have been granted to the Lt. Governor. Anything less is purely dereliction of duty.
In the military, the maximum penalty is a bad-conduct discharge, forfeiture of pay and six months confinement duty. Because he did come clean for the affair, but was absent without official leave, perhaps Sanford should not pay the maximum penalty but I do not think that he should retain public office. Nor should he be allowed to collect a pension. He was AWOL.
Corruption charges, dereliction of duty and other acts that violate the public trust should not be rewarded. They should be punished. They should not stay in office. They should not collect pensions. They should be fully and totally accountable to Main Street USA, to the people who elected them.
Perhaps by enforcing appropriate penalties our elected officials will be more honest with Main Street USA and with themselves and can start to earn back the Trust they have lost.
Over For Now,
Main Street One
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