In the movie Network, Howard Beale delivers the famous speech exhorting others to take action by saying, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!” It’s time we take up this crusade against an out of control government that has forgotten it's role and who it serves.
The recent revelations of financial abuses by the GSA are what prompted me to speak my mind on this occasion. In 2010, the GSA hosted a bi-annual conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, spending over $800,000 dollars on entertainment. Senior directors of the GSA racked up over $2000 dollars for hotel parties held in their suites. Perhaps the most disturbing thing about this event were the ridiculous videos created by GSA members during working hours which mocked the waste and abuse rampant within the organization, even taunting the Office of the Inspector General's ability to target this behavior. Employees who took part in these videos received iPads and various other frivolous gifts as prizes for these videos which make a mockery of the average taxpayer. The event planners for this wasteful event received bonuses. All of this horsing around was at the expense of the average taxpayer.
Further investigation into the GSA seems to show that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Most recently, several members of the GSA were authorized a five day trip to Hawaii to perform an hour's worth of work. All of this makes the public wonder what other kinds of shenanigans had been going on in this organization leading to such a widespread culture of corruption.
I wish I could say that this kind of fraud, waste, and abuse was atypical, but unfortunately, throughout the years news item after news item has shown me that this kind of behavior is rampant throughout our government.
It saddens me greatly to hear of these scandals. Let me explain why.
I grew up believing in American Exceptionalism. I believe in this concept for many reasons, but the one that I will articulate here is that our government was the first in history to be created to serve the people. I know that is a grand statement, but allow me to explain.
The European governments from which we broke away from had a totally different genesis than the one in which the American system of government was founded. European government started off as feudal states. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Western Europe imploded on itself. Warlords who had the money and land to hire armed thugs bullied people at the tip of a spear into obedience. These warlords created counties where they taxed their subjects to finance their own lavish lifestyles. The feudal system was born. Eventually these systems evolved into the European nations we have today. Admittedly, these nations are much more liberal than they were 1500 years ago, but one thing remains: Those governments were created to rule, not to serve.
The American government on the other hand had an entirely different start. Middle-class men fought for their freedom from an oppressive government and won their independence through the blood, sweat, and tears they shed together. These men came together and crafted a Constitutional Republic wherein the government was specifically designed to serve the people and limited to ensure that power remained with the people. I challenge you to read the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist papers. This government was truly created for, by, and of the people. Admittedly, we created inherent mistakes in the initial drafting of the Constitution (allowing the institution of slavery for one), but we have striven for over 200 years to allow those same principles apply to all.
But seeing where we are today, makes me wonder if that American Exceptionalism will continue. We have allowed our government to forget who they serve. Congressmen and Executive bureaucrats spend taxpayer dollars as if it were theirs, and not loaned to them by the American people. They enrich themselves at the expense of the blood, sweat, and tears of hard-working people through fraud, waste, abuse, and tax evasion.
Well, its time we hold them accountable and remind them that they are servants of the public trust, not masters. They need to learn that if they don't hold that in sacred regard, they will squander the public trust. I urge people to stay informed, write their Congressmen, make them accountable. If they don't, then take up the chant of Howard Beale. We once fought for freedom against a tyrannical ruler that felt he was entitled to squander our lives and possessions. Don't be so complacent to think it won't happen again.
No comments:
Post a Comment