Another "right thing" happened just now.
It seems Tom Daschle has withdrawn from consideration as Director of Health and Human Services.
Terrific.
He shouldn't have been under consideration in the first place, since he hadn't paid, apparently, over $140,000.00 in taxes and he didn't tell the Obama administration about this glitch during his earlier clearance.
The reason he really ought to have been thrown out of consideration is because he "earned" at least $200,000.00 from some of the very health care companies he'd have to be overseeing.
That's a huge conflict of interest.
And this is exactly, specifically what this new administration was not supposed to be about.
If we're going to be creating a new type administration that's "cleaner" than what's come before, there shouldn't be anyone on the staff who has not paid or who does not pay their taxes.
That's easy and obvious.
If we're going to have a new administration that breaks from the past as promised, the person shouldn't have taken money and support from the very corporations they're going to be overseeing for the public's welfare.
No way.
So no matter what is said in the near future, the right thing happened here.
Tom Daschle was not the right person for this job.
Link to full story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090203/ap_on_go_pr_wh/daschle_taxes
Showing posts with label Tom Daschle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Daschle. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
"Creeping corruption"?
The term is Howard Shore's, from yesterday on NPR.
It was a good question yesterday and it's a good one today.
Is there, as it seems, this creeping corruption in the United States?
Think about it.
There's the whole fact of lobbyists paying their representatives so they can get the regulations they want. Does "banking crisis" mean anything to you?
Timothy Geithner is nominated to be Treasury Secretary but it's found he hasn't paid $34,000.00 in taxes.
Rod Blagojevich offers to give a Senate seat but not without being paid first.
It seems like there's both local and national representatives being on the take, in different examples and situations.
Now, Tom Daschle is nominated to be Secretary of Health and Human Services but, oops, he hasn't paid $140,000.00 in back taxes. Sure, after the fact, on January 2 he pays them in full but hey, doesn't that look as though he's trying to "get by"?
And there are many, many more indications of at least impropriety, if not out and out illegality.
Are we becoming no better than any other country in the world where graft is common?
Part of it might be results of a tougher economy, sure, but it seems we are victims of our own lower standards, too. Lower standards by politicians and ourselves.
When we hear of rampant corruption in the former Soviet Union or Mexico or other countries, I think we Americans always thought we were better than that.
And we have been, by and large.
When we want to see our doctor or dentist, we don't pay for that privilege, by and large, I don't think. And I think that's true nationwide.
But for our government representatives, it seems it's getting more questionable, at least.
We need to hold them--and ourselves--to a much higher standard.
______________________________________________
A fun side note, I think:
Did you hear this? Rush Limbaugh is referring to the White House/Democrats stimulus bill as "porkulus".
I have a recommendation:
I think it's the perfect way to refer to Mr. Limbaugh.
Think of it: "Porkulus is bloviating on the economy again!"
It's perfect.
Have a great week, y'all.
It was a good question yesterday and it's a good one today.
Is there, as it seems, this creeping corruption in the United States?
Think about it.
There's the whole fact of lobbyists paying their representatives so they can get the regulations they want. Does "banking crisis" mean anything to you?
Timothy Geithner is nominated to be Treasury Secretary but it's found he hasn't paid $34,000.00 in taxes.
Rod Blagojevich offers to give a Senate seat but not without being paid first.
It seems like there's both local and national representatives being on the take, in different examples and situations.
Now, Tom Daschle is nominated to be Secretary of Health and Human Services but, oops, he hasn't paid $140,000.00 in back taxes. Sure, after the fact, on January 2 he pays them in full but hey, doesn't that look as though he's trying to "get by"?
And there are many, many more indications of at least impropriety, if not out and out illegality.
Are we becoming no better than any other country in the world where graft is common?
Part of it might be results of a tougher economy, sure, but it seems we are victims of our own lower standards, too. Lower standards by politicians and ourselves.
When we hear of rampant corruption in the former Soviet Union or Mexico or other countries, I think we Americans always thought we were better than that.
And we have been, by and large.
When we want to see our doctor or dentist, we don't pay for that privilege, by and large, I don't think. And I think that's true nationwide.
But for our government representatives, it seems it's getting more questionable, at least.
We need to hold them--and ourselves--to a much higher standard.
______________________________________________
A fun side note, I think:
Did you hear this? Rush Limbaugh is referring to the White House/Democrats stimulus bill as "porkulus".
I have a recommendation:
I think it's the perfect way to refer to Mr. Limbaugh.
Think of it: "Porkulus is bloviating on the economy again!"
It's perfect.
Have a great week, y'all.
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