Purging political parasites
July 15, 2008
Mychal Massie
© 2008
worldnetdaily.com
Seeing a dozen or so politicos being led into a courtroom on a beautiful summer day – handcuffed and escorted by police, some would say – is worth the price of admission. On July 10-11, that is exactly what happened in Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania.
State Attorney General Tom Corbett announced charges against current Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Beaver and Allegheny counties, former House Democrat Whip Michael Veron, Mike Manzo, former chief of staff to House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene County, and nine other top Democrat insiders, with his solemn assurance that this was but the beginning – that the public could expect to see more indictments involving members and staff of both parties in what is being called "Bonus Gate."
The charges stem from an 18-month public corruption investigation of whether any of the $3.6 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses paid to legislative staffers, in all four caucuses, during the 2005-06 session, were de facto rewards for campaign work.
The charges include, and have grown to include, allegations of the systematic use of state employees and resources for political campaigns, attempts to destroy evidence, contracting, campaign finance, sexual trysts, politics and cover-ups. It is believed to be the largest set of charges emanating from a public corruption investigation of the General Assembly in memory, reported the Patriot News, the Harrisburg newspaper responsible for uncovering the alleged corruption and heretofore-secret "bonus" program for certain workers.
Not surprisingly, as the first subpoenas were going out to Democrat staffers, requiring their appearance before a grand jury, caucus attorneys sought to block them, but they were "foiled" by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court – which brings me to my point.
Their attempts to avoid prosecution for their condemnable breach of fiduciary responsibility not only to subscribe to unimpeachable standards, but to prudently manage the taxpayer dollars they are entrusted with, is a flagrant abrogation of responsibility for which they should suffer the harshest penalties – including reimbursing the taxpayers with interest.
In truth, I could give a rat's tail pursuant to the nature of their collective offenses. I do care, however, that these are the men and women responsible for dictating practically every facet of our daily lives.
Politicos have been entrusted by us to act in our best interest – an act for which they reward themselves handsomely at our expense. It is time they, and the courts that too often protect them, are held accountable. As we have witnessed for centuries, such have become more corrupt, more disrespectful of the Constitution (both state and federal), and more unabashedly arrogant in their despicable actions.
They campaign on lies and obfuscation, telling the voters whatever it takes for them to get elected – and we allow them to get away with it, always believing that the lesser of two evils will somehow work for our best interest.
I have repeatedly argued that the elected and their staff work for us. It is up to us to hold them accountable. That said, for better or for worse, we have become so entrenched in a corrupt two-party system that we have become anesthetized to the depth and reality of the violations we suffer at their hands. They strip us of our constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and we not only laud them for it, but reward them with lengthy careers and lavish pensions at our expense.
Matthew R. Grover, lawyer for Patrick Lavelle Jr. and Earl Mosley, both of Harrisburg, called his clients' arrests "wrong" – he accused the agents of "getting carried away." To put his clients alleged benefits in terms all can understand, Lavelle earned $58,000-plus in 2006 and allegedly benefited from an additional nearly $18,000 in illegal bonuses. Mosley earned nearly $92,000 in 2006 and allegedly benefited from an additional $11,000-plus in illegal bonuses – every penny of which was taxpayer money. The illegal bonuses allegedly paid to those charged thus far range from $11,000-plus to $25,000-plus.
It is time to put an end to the careers of political parasites that suck our last dollars. The belief that we are powerless is one politicos are only too happy to perpetuate. In actuality, we hold all the power – we have just been convinced (by politicians, I might add) that we don't. It is time we, the voters, show the intestinal fortitude and resolve our forefathers exampled when they gave birth to this nation.
When every politico – from dogcatcher to president – is made to realize that we hold the money and the votes, and that they will get neither unless they do our bidding, things will begin to change. When we stand on principle instead of fear and coercion, we will begin to make a difference.
And, as long as I am at it, and insofar as this is Pennsylvania, I urge the Patriot News to investigate the whispered rumors that persist surrounding Gov. Ed Rendell, pursuant to certain rumblings, if true, that I am certain would lead to the end of his political career were they ever to see light of day. |
