The City of Bell, CA, a quiet blue-collar locale in SoCal, where one in six live in poverty, were able to see their corrupt city officials arrested and charged with crimes for money that was ripped from the city bank accounts.
Chief among the perpetrators is the former City Manager, Robert Rizzo. According to the Associated Press, "Rizzo, who was making nearly $800,000 a year, was booked on 53 counts of misappropriation of public funds and conflict of interest."
In all, Rizzo evidently "made $4.3 million by paying himself through different employment contracts that were not approved by the City Council."
Whether or not the council would have done anything is up for speculation as "council members paid themselves a combined $1.25 million for what (District Attorney) Cooley called 'phantom meetings' of various city boards and agencies."
Immediately after the various leaders were taken into custody the council, most of whom were paid $100,000 annually, voted to lower their pay to $8,000.
With that amount of reduction, it is clearly obvious to all that the members of the Bell City Council knew what they were doing was wrong.
One high-paid person, the former Chief of Police, Randy Adams, was not arrested as there has been no evidence that he participated in anything illegal. That he was being paid $150,000 more a year than the Chief of the LAPD, at a whopping $457,000, does not make him a criminal, according the District Attorney Steve Cooley. "Being paid excessive salaries is not a crime, illegally obtaining those salaries is a crime."
That last statement begs the question, what about any possible retirement or benefits any of these people may be able to attain?
It is hoped that there is some piece of law that will supercede each of the contracts these people had in place with Bell, as, otherwise, they may still be stealing money from taxpayers.
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label corruption. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
House Healthcare & The Bill of Rights
In the two previous posts, there were quotes from retired Constitutional Attorney Michael Connelly, a man who has read the entirety of House Bill 3200, regarding what the proposed legislation contained in the Bill passed by the House contains and how three of our original 10 Rights could potentially be destroyed.
Here are two more of those Rigths potentially devastated:
"The 9th Amendment provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;
"The 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
"Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.
"This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights.
"Article 6 of the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to 'be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution.' If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it, without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway, I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.
"For those who might doubt the nature of this threat, I suggest they consult the source, the US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us."
Taken from us...
Main Street USA, please wake up!
If the healthcare bill as proposed by either the House or Senate passes (with ample pork that President Obama promised each and every American would never be in legislation that he signs) our Rights are lost.
Our Privacy is lost.
This is the ultimate in political corruption...far worse than just accepting bribes. Those voting in favor of this legislation on Capitol Hill are committing Treason at the highest level.
If it passes, America as you know it (or have known it) will simply cease to exist.
Is it any wonder why there are Democratic Senators who have decided to retire.
Why should they worry about another election and the possibility of losing when America finds out that the country has been sold down the river.
They have a VERY cushy retirement (AND benefits!).
Unlike most of us.
Thomas Jefferson said this, "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."
Over For Now.
Main Street One
Here are two more of those Rigths potentially devastated:
"The 9th Amendment provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;
"The 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
"Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.
"This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights.
"Article 6 of the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to 'be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution.' If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it, without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway, I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.
"For those who might doubt the nature of this threat, I suggest they consult the source, the US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us."
Taken from us...
Main Street USA, please wake up!
If the healthcare bill as proposed by either the House or Senate passes (with ample pork that President Obama promised each and every American would never be in legislation that he signs) our Rights are lost.
Our Privacy is lost.
This is the ultimate in political corruption...far worse than just accepting bribes. Those voting in favor of this legislation on Capitol Hill are committing Treason at the highest level.
If it passes, America as you know it (or have known it) will simply cease to exist.
Is it any wonder why there are Democratic Senators who have decided to retire.
Why should they worry about another election and the possibility of losing when America finds out that the country has been sold down the river.
They have a VERY cushy retirement (AND benefits!).
Unlike most of us.
Thomas Jefferson said this, "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."
Over For Now.
Main Street One
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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