political cynicism for turbulent times
When the ends justify the means government ethics is an anachronism. Classic abuses like corruption in office are difficult to ignore and are usually punished sooner or later. Sneaky bad behaviors like spreading disinformation or shaming the nation into agreement on partisan imperatives do more damage and can influence millions of voters.
The worst kinds of unethical behavior are the ones we don’t see coming. They undermine what America stands for and what we believe in. Examples are political rhetoric that distorts the truth, pandering to big money donors, and selecting special interests for legislative favoritism. All of these things point to how government ethics falls by the wayside when opportunity knocks.
The government ethics category is about what happens when political opportunity takes precedence over doing the right thing. From fake politics to outright thievery, as long as there is money and power to be had government ethics will be an inconvenience best ignored.
Last update April 5, 2021Leave a Comment
In support of Donald Trump’s second impeachment Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) denounced the whiteness of the Capitol rioters in an Op-Ed posted on her House website:
The mob was able to act on their conspiracy theories because of the armor of their whiteness, which emboldened them to attempt a coup.
Last update March 17, 2021Leave a Comment
When Joe Biden signed another round of immigration executive orders on February 2, 2021 Democrats applauded his actions and blamed Americans by asserting that we have a moral obligation to fix a problem their party encouraged illegals to create:
The executive actions recognize our moral obligation to identify and reunite families separated in El Paso and across the border, restore our asylum system while addressing the root causes of migration, and promote the integrity of our immigration system.
Last update February 6, 2021Leave a Comment
It used to be poor people, especially poor black people Democrats depended on. Now it’s white supremacy. Democrats need white supremacists, the more the better. They are using white supremacy against the millions of Americans who oppose their radical policies. That’s why Democratic lawmakers keep repeating that white supremacy is behind everything they stand against: systemic racism, economic inequality, domestic terror, bipartisan congressional politics, the Capitol riot and subsequent militarization of Washington, even climate change.
Last update January 10, 2021Leave a Comment
Author’s note December 28, 2020: President Trump signed the COVID relief bill shortly after this post was published. An update appears at the end of the original post.
So where exactly is that 1,593 page spending bill that Democrats and Republicans colluded on to sell to the nation with the misnomer “COVID relief?”
Last update December 21, 2020Leave a Comment
Nancy Pelosi didn’t waste any time pointing her party’s finger at Russia after reports of a massive cyberattack on the U.S. government. While less partisan minds put the pieces together Pelosi played the blame game. She continued spreading her party’s debunked claim that Donald Trump is responsible for boogeyman Vladimir Putin’s efforts to destroy whatever passes for democracy in Democratland:
Sadly and alarmingly, the Trump Administration has for four years turned a blind eye to Putin’s attacks on our American democracy, including his ongoing efforts to attack our election systems and undermine faith in our democratic institutions.
Last update January 7, 2020Leave a Comment
The mantle of responsibility fell hard on the Democratic Party. Perhaps it was the Christmas season that caused members to frame their latest undertaking in messianic terms, as if the democratic republic they are sworn to save will vanish from the face of the earth if they don’t do the wrong thing.
Last update December 15, 2019Leave a Comment
What do a nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in cages and the past week on Capitol Hill have in common? They are unmistakable signs that scorched earth politics has gone too far.
What’s happening in Washington started as partisan brinksmanship that turned into an all-out, scorched earth war between left and right.