Corruption in Government

Real or imagined? Personally encountered or anecdotal sharing?

Many complain about corruption in high places and in government especially. And yet when confronted with choices at the ballot box these same people choose whom to lead them into the future. And nothing seems to change. Who are they voting for and why?

Let’s see: a billionaire in Illinois as governor. He has bought and paid for the office many times over and also many legislative seats that will hopefully help his cause in passing desired legislation. So far no good; gridlock remains and name-calling escalates to blame others for their own bad.

The same goes on in legislative districts: powerful lobbying interests buy legislative seats to prop up special interests in the state house. The system works for those few. The dollars have greased the way. The same goes on throughout the state. Result: gridlock in state-wide issues; corruption in local venues.

The rich get richer; the poor get poorer; the needy become more ignored and needier. Education systems become ignored and school outputs degrade. The result: the rich get richer; the poor get poorer; and the state becomes less competitive in jobs, industry and economic power.

Counties have this problem as well. Local influential people and captains of industry lobby for their interests and the money is too good to pass up; decisions are delivered in their favor. The rest of us be damned.

In large cities and government venues, these shenanigans go on because they are more difficult to spot and take action against. But there is hope elsewhere!

That is in local communities – towns, villages, fire protection districts, park districts, library and water districts. Up close and personal these taxing districts rely on good citizens to step forward and get elected to positions in which the local people have a stake and decisions are made with them in mind. The local municipality is in better condition today than the state. And nation!

Government is better managed and watched locally. That’s a simple truth.

The larger units of government generally are more removed from our daily lives and thus more shenanigans can and do take place. Yes, corruption exists in government. How much or how little depends on the electorate paying attention and getting involved. Due diligence belongs to all of us, not just elected representatives.

Inspect what you expect. That’s the first rule of supervision and management. And yes, you and I are the supervisors and managers of our own government. So begin the inspection. Read the reports for yourself. Find the source documents containing the information you need to know to make good decisions. Then make them and hold your elected officials accountable.

If we let them get away with corruption then the blame is on us. Are you and I big enough to admit that and follow through?

Corruption exists elsewhere as well. Namely in corporate America. Big money is readily available so big corruption can and does occur. That is why we have consumer protection laws and agencies to protect the public. That is also why corporate dollars are spent to lobby court decisions, legislation and regulatory formation. Each of these areas will cost corporations big dollars; if they can avoid that their profits are protected and the largesse of corruption continues. Greasing the palms of many intermediaries is how this is accomplished.

Our defense is a government system that is attuned to justice and the needs of the public. We call this the common good of mankind. Managing this is the role of government. Cheapening the process or ham-stringing it will yield corporate profits and government influence. The common good is ill-served. And we know this instinctively and statistically.

A free press rakes through the mud to find the facts. The less they do of this the more facts remain hidden and corruption lives on. No wonder government types don’t like a free press. No wonder corporate types often don’t like a free press.

That which they don’t control can undo them. And that’s precisely why we need a vibrant, free press willing and able to ask the hard questions, research the tiniest of details, and report the truth.

After all, the truth will set us free. That includes the corrupt!

March 27, 2017