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Did You Hear The One About The Honest Politician? (It`s A Rhetorical Question)

In 1971, the Byrds sang I Wanna Grow Up To Be A Politician. These days, one has to ask one`s self: why? The song was a catchy tongue-in-cheek jab at the then current state of American politics. Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon was in the third year of his first mandate. The song was prescient in a way. Two years later Vice-President Spiro Agnew resigned amid charges of bribery, tax evasion and money laundering from his tenure as Maryland's governor. A year later, Nixon himself resigned rather than face certain impeachment over his role in Watergate.
Unfortunately, questionable activities and illegal acts have always been a part of politics. What's even more unfortunate is that they always will be.

Here in Canada several years back we went through the "sponsorship" scandal, undertaken by certain members of the then governing Liberal party. The taxpayer-funded kick-back scheme that funneled cash from the government to ad and marketing agencies and on to Liberal party coffers killed then Prime Minister Paul Martin at the polls, even though he was personally absolved of any involvement the stench of government corruption proved too much for Canadians to pinch their nose and vote. Martin had spent years in the wilderness of the Finance portfolio biding his time and keeping his ambition in check and then - bam - the electorate pulled the prime ministerial rug out from under his feet.

In Britain, that country's answer to Paul Martin, Labour PM Gordon Brown, is about to see the same thing happen to him. In the UK however, taxpayers money didn`t go into Labour`s coffers. It went directly into Members` pockets! Two Ministers, the latest Wednesday, have resigned from Brown`s cabinet for expense irregularities, and many MPs say they won`t run for office again, after having been caught with their fingers in the cookie jar.
Labour has faced the brunt of voter anger against many MPs who have milked the allowances system, claiming from taxpayers the cost of everything from duck houses to cleaning a moat to the rental of porno movies.

You know a prerequisite for politics is having to be smart. But this bunch just isn`t smart enough. They keep getting caught.
Perhaps Roger McGuinn and the boys should have sang: I Wanna Grown Up To Be A Politician!

Comments

Unknown said…
I am glad you cleared that up with the word rhetorical. The two ex Governors in our state have been found to be taking money. It goes all the way back to the 70's. I hate politicians!
Donnie said…
Christ! Who ever invented politicians must have had an evil and dark sense of humor. It wasn't me, but I wish it had of been. What would we have to be mad at and laugh about if it weren't for those bozos?
nonamedufus said…
ettarose: amazing, although I guess we shouldn't be surprised any more.

Don: You're right. Sadly we often vote these schmuks into office because they promise to clean the mess left by their predecessors and then their mess is even worse.
Surveygirl46 said…
that's a funny word change to the song - seriously though, i don't listen to ANY politicians anymore, and here is why - the things they say (or are told to say by the real man behind the curtain OZ) and the actions they take contradict each other continually (and it's been that way for years)...and yet people still keep waiting around to see when one will make good on his promise ---no offense to people who follow politics at all - I just don't (except to laugh at them)
Anonymous said…
No wonder the Kingdom form of government is the only one that even stands a chance or makes sense. One can find it ordained in the scriptures.

This country started as a Confederacy and 12 yrs later by opposition of the founding fathers switched to a constitution form of government.

The founding fathers had good ideas but maybe we'd be better if there was never a revolutionary war.

6,000 years of history and never has this type government been successful - now, is this one going t make it?
nonamedufus said…
Anon: I sincerely doubt it.

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