A wave of corruption and fraud crackdowns

Just today, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and Chief of Staff John Harris were arrested and accused of corruption charges. While the details of this event are still being revealed and the extent of the corruption investigation are not known at this time, this event is one of several recent fraud and corruption related news items over the last few months. The recent events can be best described as a crackdown on corruption and fraud in government.

Mr. Blagojevich, 51 and Mr. Harris, 46, have both been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. Mr. Blagojevich is accused of attempting to solicit bribes for the Senate seat that was left vacant by the election of Barack Obama in November. As I write this, the main stream media is reporting that it does not appear as though President-elect Obama was involved in this issue in any way.

Of course, we all remember the drama surrounding the race for the Senate seat in Alaska that was held by Ted Stevens. For those of you who have forgotten, Senator Stevens was convicted on charges that he failed to report gifts that he had received from VECO Corporation. Senator Stevens lost his bid to return to the Senate to Mark Begich.

The misdeeds of the rich and powerful have even stretched into Highlands County with the recent arrest of Dan Andrews on counts of embezzlement, fraud, and theft. Mr. Andrews has his initial hearing on December 22.

Over the course of American history, there have been many people that hold a position of power that have fallen prey to the lure of easy money. The lengths at which some have and will go to protect their socio-economic status is astounding. The old adage that "absolute power corrupts absolutely" has never been more true than it is now.

I suppose that people who yearn for power and wealth have had to do things outside the moral fabric to get where they are. I am not naive enough to think that everyone in business and politics always play fair and do not break the rules. But the amusing part to me is always when they fall from grace and immediately become the victim. The image that pops into my head right now is that of a teary eyed, sobbing Jimmy Swaggert as he reveals that he has succumbed to the sins of the flesh.

"I have sinned against you," he says. No, Mr. Swaggert you have sinned against your morals and your God. But He will forgive you, He always will forgive. I firmly believe that a man of God should not be placed on higher moral ground than a "regular" man. Everyone is human, even men and women of the cloth.

So why, I ask, do we place our spiritual and government leaders on a higher moral ground? Why do we want to believe that they are incapable of committing the same crimes and sins that the average person can commit?

Because we want them to be better than us. I do not mean that in a negative way. Each of us feel that a person in a position of power should be able to withstand all temptation and make the correct ethical, moral, and financial decision every time without a misstep. Of course, deep down inside, we all know that it is impossible. And that is where our own sins come into play.

There are many in society that enjoy watching the mighty fall from grace or power. It reaffirms the belief that we are all human and we all make mistakes. So why do we bang the drum when they make the mistakes and then laugh when they fall? Because we to are human.