Hmm, sort like eradicating an invasive species, like fireants or Africanized bees. Well there is certainly social worth when you put it that way… and a source of protein. 😈

In the old days no one tried to hide what they were up to – the pols were corrupt and proud of helping their friends, as that was the whole point of being elected. Now, in addition to the corruption, you have to put up with the hypocrisy of the pols claiming they would never do anything under-handed. Too many claiming the reason you can trust them is because they are such pious believers.

A big shift occurred when the pols stopped helping their voters and started helping the corporations. It use to be that you got something – a job, an apartment – for voting for a crook, now you get screwed over by banks.

As I keep saying, if someone runs as a family-values Republican, they should automatically be put on the sex offenders list. It would save a lot of time and paperwork.

Israel hasn’t had a prime minister in decades who wasn’t involved in some sort of criminal corruption trial.

As usual, STP was right, just throw them in prison, and stop pretending.

I see yet another Illinois politician has finally been convicted of corruption (come on! It’s Illinois! It would be news if they found a Politician – or businessman – that wasn’t corrupt)!

According to a UIC Anti-corruption report (The Depth of Corruption in Illinois: Anti-Corruption Report Number 2 May 13, 2009) which states:

Public corruption in Illinois has a long history dating from the first scandal involving Chicago aldermen and Cook County commissioners in the 1860s. At that time they participated in a crooked contract to paint city hall. Today, nearly a century and a half later, crooked contracts still cost the taxpayers millions of dollars a year and crooked politicians still go to jail.

As we continue our study of public corruption, we have discovered that our
original findings underestimated the level of corruption in recent years. We now know
that more than 1500 individuals have been convicted of myriad forms of public
corruption since 1970. Based upon the testimony before the Illinois Reform Commission and our own research, we now believe that the cost of corruption, or “corruption tax,” for the Chicago and Illinois taxpayer is at least $500 million a year. This is based upon testimony before the commission that about 5% of state government contracts are given out to political cronies and campaign contributors and on our own tallies of the costs of the major scandals over the last four decades.

Illinois makes Italian politicians appear honest by comparison! 😉 😀

I think Sir Terry Pratchett had the right idea about XXXX and it should be applied to Illinois: anyone elected to office should just be thrown in prison because you know they are probably guilty of something! 😆 And Obama came from the Illinois Machine. 1+1= … 😛

If anyone is interested in the UIC reports (and they do make interesting reading):

UIC Anti-Corruption Reports

I remember one of the columnists at The Drum remarking that she makes good news sound like a disaster, and disasters sound even worse. It makes you wonder how she has ever succeeded in politics. It may have to do with something that a reporter said during the floods – she gets along well with people on a personal level, but cannot deal with the media at all. Like a lot of software, she doesn’t scale.

Not only has she done a complete back-flip on the carbon tax deal (and totally lied and broken a promise she made to get elected in the process), but she’d behaving more like the Coalition, all talk and no substance, and being secretive (won’t release treasury figures for eg.) She’s also been caught going back to Rudd’s policies that she and her handlers got him thrown under the bus for. Rudd of course is just doing his job (and well I might add) whilst looking at the camera whenever asked about what’s going on with a knowing smile and “I told you so” kind of expression.

Sadly, we are screwed. Gillard is doing her usual job of screwing up Royally, the carbon tax deal, the people smuggling (boat people), and the NBN (National Broadband Network), to name but a few! We want our troops out of Afghanistan, yesterday! And she thinks she’s Ike! We DEFINITELY do not want the Coalition back (Abbott would be a nightmare). I’m not sure Rudd would take the job back even if offered, and I’m not sure he should all things considered. But there really isn’t anyone else. *shrug*

Meeahhhh! I’m still looking for a nice cave. Nothing fancy… dry, near clean running water, arable land to grow a few veggies and fruit trees, some game, and not a Politician for a hundred miles!

Maybe the Cali’s are starting to think electing Der Terminator wasn’t such a great idea after all! 😆

People truly are their own worst enemies. *shrug*

Steve: Yes… I’ve thought similar thoughts about Politicians here (and elsewhere) often. Just yesterday in fact… I think people are coming to the realization (and about bloody time) that they were well-and-truly conned by Gillard!! I really hope that bus is coming soon! Actually… I hope it’s a 50ton steam roller! Hmmph! My maternal Gran woulda been telling people everywhere it was a huge mistake allowing Gillard to steal the PMship! She always said the only good thing to come out of Wales was coal (and she was Welsh)! 😆 😈

Hmm. I’ve often wished I could drive a stake in the job done by the Texas Lege…