The following is an article on Blago, but one only needs to replace “Illinois” with “enter your local government name here” and you will swear he was reading our minds when writing this.
In either case, we can all demand accountability in our local government.
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Quoted from the end of this article in the Chicago Tribune.
What we must remember is this.
Oaths were taken.
And still they sold public office. They did so without honor. The breaking of an oath is not about a contract between the corrupt official and his conscience. It is about a contract between that official and all of us.
To pretend otherwise, to blubber and wail and plead mercy for such jackals, is to spread their infection upon all the victims. We are the taxpayers. We are the victims. And they’re the criminals. Some of you might not think oaths are important. Others might avoid such threatening terms as action and consequence.
And some obviously just get weak-kneed at the moment the hammer is about to fall. If that’s the case, then, please do the rest of us a favor and avert your eyes. But don’t stop the rest of us from doing what’s necessary.
Illinois is swimming in corruption. We’re drowning in it. The political class laughs at us. Can’t you hear it as they continue making their fortunes and putting their families and friends at the public trough to feed? It is their laughter that echoes on the breeze, Illinois.
There must be consequences for what people do, and debts must be paid for sins.
You take that oath, as a governor, as a judge, it must mean something. It’s got to count, even in a crooked state like Illinois.
jskass@tribune.com Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
4 Comments
Kirk Allen
Posted at 10:30h, 04 DecemberNo truer words can be spoken and it fits Edgar County perfectly!
Sue Bridgman
Posted at 07:18h, 22 JanuarySo, although Michale Callahan’s investigations led to the release of two innocent men, NO ONE WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE. No one in the DA office, no one in the ISP. You guys aren’t really holding anyone accuntable.
Kirk Allen
Posted at 07:41h, 22 JanuaryAs far as the Callahan investigation I agree, no one was held accountable. As far as what we may or may not be accomplishing as it relates to accountability is another issue. We have held many public bodies accountable and all you have to do is read the articles to see that. Can you tell us what your doing to hold your local official accountable?
Sue Bridgman
Posted at 09:03h, 22 JanuaryI have been learning that public officials are required by law to be bonded/insured. Complaints on their bonds seems to me the way to go. When superiors fail to accept responsibility, which seems to be the norm, citizens should be able to make a damages claim on their insurance as a public official. Each and every person should know how to do this. If any public official breaks any sort of law, and three citizens file complaints to the insurance company, the official would be unable to be insured, therefore disqualified to hold office. Much like someone who keeps causing damages in their vehicle to other peoples’ vehicles – they are going to have a very hard time finding an insurance company willing to cover that careless driver.