Your tax dollars, hard at work

If there is indeed, an "axis of evil", as the late Ronald Reagan dubbed the Soviet Empire, then the other end of that axis spins in U.S. politics. Somewhere, the idea of a government, "of the people, by the people" has given way to a goverment up for the highest bid or bribe.

Take for example, the deplorable situation with Congressman Tom Foley, out of Florida. When confronted with his despicable acts and as more light was shed upon the sad situation, he withdrew himself from the limelight and cowardly began to offer up weak excuses.

Weak excuse number 1: He is gay. OK, even if we are accepting of that lifestyle, what does that have to do with being a pervert with Teenaged boys? What does that have to do with, not only supplying, but partaking in the consumption of alcohol with minors? What does it have to do with ANYTHING concerning Mr. Foley's behavior? It doesn't! In fact, it only points out the hypocrisy that we, as a nation, revel in. I wonder where the outcry is from the gay community? Because, if we accept Mr. Foley's excuse for his behavior then there is an admission of sorts that something is inherently wrong with that lifestyle. Even if you buy into the, "if he had his freedom or didn't feel confined by society" excuse, (which is the design of the excuse) it still doesn't excuse contributing to the delenquincy of minors now, does it?

Weak excuse number 2: He was molested as a boy by a member of the Clergy. I must confess that I was waiting for this one to be roled out. It seems to be in the unwritten handbook, "Excuses for deplorable Behavior". Now don't get me wrong, I don't mean, for one second, to make light of the pain of someone that has been abused in a situation involving men of faith. It is a definite problem in this day and age and it isn't only in the Catholic Church. It is a serious and extremely sad situation. However, with that said, It is also becoming a very weak excuse that seems to be unquestioned. Are we really saying, "well, since he was abused by a member of clergy then I guess it's acceptable that he has abused young boys?" Where did this ideaology come from that because of the actions of others it excuse my personal responsibility? I'll tell you, it came straight from the garden of Eden, when sin first made it's entrance into this world through man. ADAM: "it's the woman's fault that YOU gave me" (blaming not only Eve but God as well) EVE: "It was the serpents fault." The point is that personal accountability for our actions does not end when something bad happens to us. Let' put it into perspective. If conducting yourself in an illegal, immoral way that abuuses others is acceptable because you were abused by a clergyman, then the families of Jeffery Dahmers victims should be allowed to go out and murder innocent people because it happened to their family! Preposterous, isn't it? EXACTLY!

My last rant for the day, goes toward ignorant partisan politics. In the wake of the Foley fallout the character of a good man is being impugned. Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, is a good man. He is an exemplary leader and someone that I will, once again, vote for with a good and clean conscience. He is also the scapegoat target of hypocritic Democrats in the wake of the Foley fallout. Why, hypocritic, you may ask? Where was their outcry when Clinton used the Oval office as his own house of ill repute? Where was their outcry when headlines and news leads, talked about stained, blue dresses? Do I mean that we should excuse either of these instances? Absolutley not! But if Denny Hastert is guilty of anything, it would simply be a lack of credible information. Partisan politics, (by no means exclusive to Democrats) says here is something we can use to get someone else. Men of character, (which should be who we vote for, regardless of political affiliation) say this is wrong, let's fix it.

*editted to correct the state that Mr. Foley is from. My apologies to California.