Dolcefino tells us that both Jackson and the contractor have avoided talking to him, implying that something shady might be going on. Namely, that Jackson is exchanging his political muscle for financial support. That may be the case here, but what about the fact that this occurs on a daily basis right out in the open? Apparently Dolcefino has no problem with the use of political pull, so long as it is done publicly. In fact, he admits as much:
At least with campaign donations, the public gets to see who's donating.Dolcefino implies that as long as we know who is making donations it's fine if they later benefit from greasing the political wheels. It's fine if contractors (or anyone) uses political influence in order to gain lucrative government contracts, just so long as we know who is benefiting. As long as everyone completes the proper forms there is nothing wrong with exchanging influence for money. It is wrong--and apparently unethical--only when it occurs out of the public eye.
Even with charitable events, there's a paper trail the public can follow.
Dolcefino is hardly alone in holding this position. Many people hold the view that all politicians are crooks, and then continue to support the ideas advocated by those crooks. In most jurisdictions, aiding and abetting thieves is itself a crime, and it is always unethical.
The fact is, our entire political system is an ethics violation. Our welfare state is based on the premise that it is proper to steal from some for the alleged benefit of others. If Dolcefino(or anyone) is concerned about ethics and government, he would do well to discover that the proper purpose of government is the protection of individual rights, not the redistribution of wealth. He would do well to discover that each individual has a moral right to live by the judgment of his own mind, in the pursuit of his own values, for the purpose of his own happiness. Now that would be a story.
4 comments:
You are identifing a method of manipulation on the part of Jarvis Jackson and on the part of Wayne Dolcefino and KTRK, just before the upcoming election. Doesn't this sound familiar, such as the former district attorney and Jerry Eversole 2 years ago.
Yes, it does remind me of Eversole and countless other politicians.
My real point is that what Dolcefino is complaining about happens daily, but there is little uproar about it because all of the "proper" paperwork has been filed.
"The fact is, our entire political system is an ethics violation."
I suppose more accurately it is the abuse of the political system which is an ethics violation. I suppose the original mistakes setting it up were honest? However, I understand your point.
The only proper choice is between politicians who propose different methods for protecting our rights. We’ve long since past the point where any politicians deserves our votes.
“Our welfare state is based on the premise that it is proper to steal from some for the alleged benefit of others.”
As is by definition any form of taxation or as it should be called ‘tribute‘.
"I suppose more accurately it is the abuse of the political system which is an ethics violation."
Yes. The point that I was trying to make is that our current system--not that set up by the Founders--necessitates the violation of individual rights.
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