Political Class Corruption - Local and State Government Style

Many times in this blog we have talked about the corruption that seems to be rampant at the Federal government political class level. From wasting hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars every year to alleged corruption charges against Congressman Charles Rangel and Congresswoman Maxine Walters to the financing of incumbents' re-election campaigns via taxpayer funded earmarks, the corruption at all levels of the Federal government seems to go on unabated, regardless of who controls the White House or Congress.

However, political officials at all levels of American government also seem to be heavily involved in the business of corruption: 

• In an October 4, 2010 Associated Press article, it was reported that the Justice Department had issued indictments against the owners of two of Alabama's largest bingo casinos, four state senators and several lobbyists. According to the indictments, these individuals were involved in a plan to buy and sell politicians' votes relative to a bill that would have legalized electronic bingo games. In all, eleven people were indicted. Previous legislative efforts to legalize the games were defeated. According to the Justice Department, as a result of these state house defeats, the owners of the two largest operators of electronic bingo parlors started offering millions in campaign contributions, benefit concerts by country music artists, and hidden $1 million a year payments in return for legislators voting to approve the gambling bill when it came up for vote the third time. One of those indicted has already pleaded guilty to offering a state senator $2 million to vote for the bill.
• In New Jersey, the Associated Press reported on October 5, 2010 that three state official corruption trials got underway the same day. Charges against these public officials include stealing or destroying election ballots, lining their wallets with bribes, billing personal expenses to the local government budget, and accepting illegal campaign contributions. The most audacious charge, if true, is the accusation that an Atlantic City councilman and his friends held an "autograph party" where they steamed opened sealed voters' ballots, forwarded those ballots to election authorities that voted for the councilman and destroyed the votes for his competitors.
• On September 22, 1010, the Associated Press reported that local politicians in Bell, California had mismanaged $50 million in town bond money, levied illegal taxes, and paid outrageously high salaries to the town's top politicians. Already, eight current and former town officials have been arrested for misappropriation of public funds among other charges. Among the latest charges was one that accused a former city manager of taking control of city funds and using the money to inflate his own salary and pay off his personal loans. According to an audit of the town's financials, "the city had almost no accounting controls, no checks or balances, and the general fund was run like a petty cash drawer" which led to "fraudulent, wasteful spending."
• According to the CBS affiliate in New Mexico, KRQE television, the two candidates running for governor in the state are trying to outdo each other in promising to appoint corruption panels to clean up state government. Recent corruption scandals in the state include a kickback scheme in the state treasurer's office, the Metropolitan courthouse construction scandal, alleged misuse of taxpayer money by a former secretary of state, and Federal investigations into pay-to-play schemes involving state government investments. Democratic candidate for governor, Diane Denish, wants to create a commission to look into corruption that involves law enforcement personnel and private citizens but no politicians. Republican candidate, Susana Martinez, wants to create a corruption unit within the New Mexico State Police organization that does not include any politicians.

Major corruption going-ons in four states within a span of just a few weeks. One gets the impression that this is not a coincidence but more of an ongoing problem at all levels of government in all states. You cannot say you live in a democracy when corruption is so rampant that voters' ballots are violated, taxpayer money is misused or stolen outright by elected officials, election campaign financing is done illegally, bribery is a way of life, and things are so bad that no one wants politicians involved in cleaning up the mess because of the high level of mistrust that exists between Americans and their politicians.

When "Love My Country, Loathe My Government" was written, Step 5 was intended to increase law enforcement resources to go after people that cheated the IRS on their taxes and committed fraud against other government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. This step probably should have been written to include expanding law enforcement resources that also go after politicians at the state and local government levels who misuse their position of public trust for personal gain. It would likely be a lucrative area to recover lost taxpayer money.



Our new book, "Love My Country, Loathe My Government - Fifty First Steps To Restoring Our Freedom And Destroying The American Political Class" is now available at www.loathemygovernment.com. It is also available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Please pass our message of freedom onward. Let your friends and family know about our websites and blogs, ask your library to carry the book, and respect freedom for both yourselves and others everyday.

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www.cato.org
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www.realpolichick.blogspot.com
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