Fareed Zakaria looked at bribes
Excellent as always, Fareed Zakaria, still one of the few -- if only -- political talk shows that actually asks questions without forcing self-serving answers* -- discussed the situation of bribes, a worldwide practice integral to business in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
And it reminded me of a thought I often have:
"What's the difference between bribes and campaign contributions?
And my answer always boils down to this and nothing more:
"Bribes are illegal."
One of my all-time favorite politicians was a man who, a few years back, ran for Mayor of Santa Cruz, CA on the graft platform called: Something for everyone and a little bit for me.
He promised to publish every bribe, kickback and special consideration taking place in his administration. I wish I could remember his name, if only to give him due credit for firing the first shot in the war for honest government.
(In the state where I was born -- Pennsylvania -- one of the great historical figures is a man who, in the 19th century, set that proper level of graft to be taken on construction contracts at 15% -- prior to that, crooks were all over the place.)
*
Others do this to some extent -- Rachel Maddow is the only host who doesn't treat former RNC Chairman Michael Steele like some sort of minstrel show clown, but with enough respect and affection to have a conversation that asks for his point of view and allows him to show that he's as a rather intelligent fellow.
Dylan Ratigan interviewed Ron Paul today and asked the sort of intelligent non-argumentative questions one would ask any guest not pre-judged to be crazy. Ratigan appeared to have Ron Paul on his show because he honestly wanted to give the man a chance to tell his viewers his opinion on government, deficits, and everything else. There's a reason people of all sides of political point of view love Ron Paul, even if they believe his administration would be a national disaster -- because he's straight on, doesn't hedge when someone disagrees with him, doesn't do a Newt Gingrich or Donald Trump, i.e., pretend he never ever ever ever EVER said that or MEANT that. Ron Paul is that man -- not George W Bush, you'd like to know as a friend.
And it reminded me of a thought I often have:
"What's the difference between bribes and campaign contributions?
And my answer always boils down to this and nothing more:
"Bribes are illegal."
One of my all-time favorite politicians was a man who, a few years back, ran for Mayor of Santa Cruz, CA on the graft platform called: Something for everyone and a little bit for me.
He promised to publish every bribe, kickback and special consideration taking place in his administration. I wish I could remember his name, if only to give him due credit for firing the first shot in the war for honest government.
(In the state where I was born -- Pennsylvania -- one of the great historical figures is a man who, in the 19th century, set that proper level of graft to be taken on construction contracts at 15% -- prior to that, crooks were all over the place.)
*
Others do this to some extent -- Rachel Maddow is the only host who doesn't treat former RNC Chairman Michael Steele like some sort of minstrel show clown, but with enough respect and affection to have a conversation that asks for his point of view and allows him to show that he's as a rather intelligent fellow.
Dylan Ratigan interviewed Ron Paul today and asked the sort of intelligent non-argumentative questions one would ask any guest not pre-judged to be crazy. Ratigan appeared to have Ron Paul on his show because he honestly wanted to give the man a chance to tell his viewers his opinion on government, deficits, and everything else. There's a reason people of all sides of political point of view love Ron Paul, even if they believe his administration would be a national disaster -- because he's straight on, doesn't hedge when someone disagrees with him, doesn't do a Newt Gingrich or Donald Trump, i.e., pretend he never ever ever ever EVER said that or MEANT that. Ron Paul is that man -- not George W Bush, you'd like to know as a friend.
posted by Saintperle at
2:45 PM
