Ben Thompson
Corruption in high places
By Ben Thompson
Recently, once powerful lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, as part of a plea bargain, pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. The agreement requires Abramoff to provide evidence about members of Congress. What will the evidence uncover?
Corruption among public officials and big business is running rampant in America today. Unfortunately, Abramoff is just one of an ever-growing list who have been convicted or accused of corruption.
Is there anything average citizens can do to affect positive change in this malignant trend?
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." — Edmund Burke
Certainly there is more than enough blame to go around. There simply is no excuse for elected or appointed officials, businessmen or anyone else to accept money, privileges and favors in exchange for votes, power and influence.
"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." — Plato
Should citizens write letters to elected officials, telephone or visit them? Are letters to the editor effective? Should like-minded folks organize, plan and take action? Or, are such activities just a waste of time? Maybe folks should just sit in front the TV or visit a favorite coffee shop and complain?
"To sit home, and read one's favorite newspaper, and scoff at the misdeeds of men...is easy, but it is markedly ineffective. It is what evil men count on the good men's doing." — Theodore Roosevelt
There is ample anecdotal and historical evidence that citizens can make a difference.
Recently the issue of the mistreatment of animals at the North Platte animal shelter aroused the ire of local citizens. Due primarily to pressure resulting from citizen complaints the shelter's method of euthanasia was quickly changed.
President John Adams: "It does not take a majority to prevail...but an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
Historically, it is common knowledge that our founders, with the aid of an aroused citizenry, overcame overwhelming external and internal forces to establish this free nation.
"Now more than ever before the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature." — President James Garfield (1877)
Garfield's words are even more relevant today. We the People are primarily to blame for corruption because most of us choose to sit around on our hands and complain but aren't self-motivated enough to take action.
Noah Webster — "When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers 'just men who will rule in the fear of God'....If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for the selfish or local purposes...the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of citizens will be violated..."
We the People are responsible to educate ourselves on the issues and the candidates. Sure we are busy and sure it is sometimes difficult to muster the courage speak out. But it is our solemn responsibility to do so. Future generations are counting on us. We must take action if we want positive change.
"Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice...Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." — Thomas Paine
"If there is anything which it is the duty of the whole people to never entrust to any hands but their own — that thing is the preservation of their own liberties and institutions." — Abraham Lincoln
Corruption in high places inevitably leads to loss of basic freedoms. We the People need to organizes ourselves locally, statewide and nationally, make plans and take action. Only then will the corruption be curtailed and liberty maintained.
© Ben Thompson
Recently, once powerful lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, as part of a plea bargain, pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. The agreement requires Abramoff to provide evidence about members of Congress. What will the evidence uncover?
Corruption among public officials and big business is running rampant in America today. Unfortunately, Abramoff is just one of an ever-growing list who have been convicted or accused of corruption.
Is there anything average citizens can do to affect positive change in this malignant trend?
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." — Edmund Burke
Certainly there is more than enough blame to go around. There simply is no excuse for elected or appointed officials, businessmen or anyone else to accept money, privileges and favors in exchange for votes, power and influence.
"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." — Plato
Should citizens write letters to elected officials, telephone or visit them? Are letters to the editor effective? Should like-minded folks organize, plan and take action? Or, are such activities just a waste of time? Maybe folks should just sit in front the TV or visit a favorite coffee shop and complain?
"To sit home, and read one's favorite newspaper, and scoff at the misdeeds of men...is easy, but it is markedly ineffective. It is what evil men count on the good men's doing." — Theodore Roosevelt
There is ample anecdotal and historical evidence that citizens can make a difference.
Recently the issue of the mistreatment of animals at the North Platte animal shelter aroused the ire of local citizens. Due primarily to pressure resulting from citizen complaints the shelter's method of euthanasia was quickly changed.
President John Adams: "It does not take a majority to prevail...but an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."
Historically, it is common knowledge that our founders, with the aid of an aroused citizenry, overcame overwhelming external and internal forces to establish this free nation.
"Now more than ever before the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature." — President James Garfield (1877)
Garfield's words are even more relevant today. We the People are primarily to blame for corruption because most of us choose to sit around on our hands and complain but aren't self-motivated enough to take action.
Noah Webster — "When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers 'just men who will rule in the fear of God'....If the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made not for the public good so much as for the selfish or local purposes...the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of citizens will be violated..."
We the People are responsible to educate ourselves on the issues and the candidates. Sure we are busy and sure it is sometimes difficult to muster the courage speak out. But it is our solemn responsibility to do so. Future generations are counting on us. We must take action if we want positive change.
"Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice...Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death." — Thomas Paine
"If there is anything which it is the duty of the whole people to never entrust to any hands but their own — that thing is the preservation of their own liberties and institutions." — Abraham Lincoln
Corruption in high places inevitably leads to loss of basic freedoms. We the People need to organizes ourselves locally, statewide and nationally, make plans and take action. Only then will the corruption be curtailed and liberty maintained.
© Ben Thompson
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