Massachusetts local politics run amuck - corruption galore.
This state is experiencing what appears to be an epidemic of corruption. I am sure some of the older folks can probably come up with examples from the late 1970s when MA was deeply mired in scandal and corruption, but in the past 18 years or so things have gotten real bad here.
Simply in the past half a year or so, observe these developments.
Jim Marzilli - State senator who was sexually harassing women and apparently resisted arrest on the grounds that he was a state senator. Power hungry much? Finally he resigned, but it was not because of any public vocal pressure. MA politicians are spineless.
Dianne Wilkerson - Another senator got caught by an FBI sting operation. She fell victim to taking bribes and stuffing them into her bra. While a hilarious story in terms of logistics, not so much for the citizens. She finally resigned too, after waiting long enough.
Chuck Turner - A Boston city councilor arrested for bribery in relation to the Wilkerson case. This guy is a real blast, apparently he was testifying in front of our state senate on the horrors of Iraq war and presented pictures of American soldiers raping Iraqi women. Unfortunately for him and the Boston Globe (who quickly scrambled to write a story) the pictures were actually obtained from a porn website. Chuck later spoke out in front of a group about the unfair treatment he has been getting, accused newspapers and FBI of racially motivated attacks, called Israel an apartheid state and accused his opposition of performing witch hunts. What else can you expect from a Harvard graduate?
Albert Arroyo - This story is just depressing. A fireman on disability was caught in a bodybuilding competition. His disability? His back was so hurt that he could not even perform secretary work! I have all the respect in the world for our firefighters, but this is a perfect example of how this system can be exploited. Sadly, there is no obvious solution to any of this - there will always be bad apples.
Cemetery worker steals gas - Not sure what is worse, the fact that a cemetery worker makes 80,000 (w.overtime) a year or that he also steals on top of it?
This is just a brief summary from memory. What it goes to show you is that generally when gov't gets involved, corruption is quick to follow. This is not an accusation of any particular government, altough MA is notorious, but rather the inevitable nature of handling someone else's money! For all the advocates of bigger government, more intervention and more regulation - you must understand that inevitably money will be 'lost'. The government machine must pay itself to operate and in doing so, with time, money dissapears. Sadly, to make up for losses and inefficiency more and more government gets implemented. It is a vicious circle and something that the European socialist nations know all too well.
Simply in the past half a year or so, observe these developments.
Jim Marzilli - State senator who was sexually harassing women and apparently resisted arrest on the grounds that he was a state senator. Power hungry much? Finally he resigned, but it was not because of any public vocal pressure. MA politicians are spineless.
Dianne Wilkerson - Another senator got caught by an FBI sting operation. She fell victim to taking bribes and stuffing them into her bra. While a hilarious story in terms of logistics, not so much for the citizens. She finally resigned too, after waiting long enough.
Chuck Turner - A Boston city councilor arrested for bribery in relation to the Wilkerson case. This guy is a real blast, apparently he was testifying in front of our state senate on the horrors of Iraq war and presented pictures of American soldiers raping Iraqi women. Unfortunately for him and the Boston Globe (who quickly scrambled to write a story) the pictures were actually obtained from a porn website. Chuck later spoke out in front of a group about the unfair treatment he has been getting, accused newspapers and FBI of racially motivated attacks, called Israel an apartheid state and accused his opposition of performing witch hunts. What else can you expect from a Harvard graduate?
Albert Arroyo - This story is just depressing. A fireman on disability was caught in a bodybuilding competition. His disability? His back was so hurt that he could not even perform secretary work! I have all the respect in the world for our firefighters, but this is a perfect example of how this system can be exploited. Sadly, there is no obvious solution to any of this - there will always be bad apples.
Cemetery worker steals gas - Not sure what is worse, the fact that a cemetery worker makes 80,000 (w.overtime) a year or that he also steals on top of it?
This is just a brief summary from memory. What it goes to show you is that generally when gov't gets involved, corruption is quick to follow. This is not an accusation of any particular government, altough MA is notorious, but rather the inevitable nature of handling someone else's money! For all the advocates of bigger government, more intervention and more regulation - you must understand that inevitably money will be 'lost'. The government machine must pay itself to operate and in doing so, with time, money dissapears. Sadly, to make up for losses and inefficiency more and more government gets implemented. It is a vicious circle and something that the European socialist nations know all too well.
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