It appears now it is a prerequisite that you have a criminal record to become a politician. Our country recently has had problems acquiring a president with a clean slate; it seems they are always enmeshed in some scandal. To illustrate: the healthcare bill’s passage was assured by a modern form of bribery to congressional members. Or politicians “secretly craft the final bill behind closed doors [to] fit more with a policy of official opacity than oft-promised transparency.” Another example is the Watergate Scandal that rocked Washington D.C. Congress is occupied with power-hungry, greed driven men and women who are willing to use questionable means to achieve their goal. Unfortunately, no side is exempt when examining our government. And the irony of it is the most frustrating. Our legislators encourage us to be good citizens, yet they themselves have many faults. I draw the line well before someone sells his “seat” on EBay. If so much of their malfeasance is obvious it makes one wonder what they do behind closed doors.
Why have we let it come to this? I ask myself that question all the time. Why is it so challenging to have an honest, trustworthy person as president? Why do persons holding public trust feel they are above the law, particularly if they are the ones that bestow them upon us? Too many times I have pondered if there are any type of institutions that promote honesty and leadership.