I WANT TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT THE ABUSE OF POWER FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A MINOR, LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL.
FOR ME, THE VERY BASIC MOTIVATION FOR SOMEONE IN MY POSITION HAS BEEN TO SELFLESSLY DO THE MOST GOOD FOR THE MOST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN MY COMMUNITY.
THE BEST EXAMPLE IS WHEN WE LEVERAGE TAX DOLLARS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE PAY AND PERKS ARE MINIMAL. BUT THE REWARD IN SATISFACTION IS TREMENDOUS.
NOT THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN AMERICA HAVE BEEN IMMUNE TO ABUSE – THERE ARE MANY HIGH-PROFILE EXAMPLES OF PATRONAGE AND SPECIAL TREATMENT, BUT AS A RULE, THE PROPENSITY FOR ABUSE TENDS TO INCREASE AS POWER BECOMES MORE CONCENTRATED.
WE HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THAT CONCENTRATION OF POWER AND ABUSE THROUGHOUT OUR NATION’S HISTORY, AND THE SAFEGUARDS WE HAVE PUT INTO PLACE TO COMBAT THAT ABUSE ARE BEGINNING TO FAIL US.
TODAY WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO HAS STRIPPED AWAY THE CAMOUFLAGE OF ABUSE IN AMERICAN POLITICS AND HAS EXPOSED IT FOR ALL TO SEE.
IN A WORLD WHERE PRESIDENTS ONCE PUT THEIR BUSINESS INTERESTS IN BLIND TRUSTS, WHERE PRESIDENTS ONCE OPENED THE BOOKS TO THEIR PERSONAL WEALTH AND INCOME, IN A WORLD WHERE PRESIDENTS DREW THE LINE OF CRONYISM AT OUR NATIONAL BORDERS. WE NOW HAVE A WORLD WHERE THE PRESIDENT OPENLY VIOLATES THE EMOLUMENTS CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION, REFUSES TO DISCLOSE HIS INCOME OR BUSINESS DEALINGS, AND WORSE, OPENLY SIDES WITH OUR ENEMIES TO COMPROMISE THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IN A WORLD WHERE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, MISOGYNY AND BIGOTRY ONCE SPELLED THE END OF A PRESIDENT’S POLITICAL CAREER, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS SOMEHOW ABLE TO THRIVE IN THAT ATMOSPHERE!
AS A LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL, AS A FATHER AND HUSBAND, AS A VETERAN, AS A CITIZEN OF MY COUNTRY AND COMMUNITY, I AM APPALLED AND ASHAMED AT THE REPUTATION OUR COUNTRY IS FAST GAINING WITH THE REST OF THE FREE WORLD.
BUT, WHAT APPALLS ME MOST IS THAT SO MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS, SO MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS, ARE WILLING TO STAND BY AND IGNORE THIS ABHORRENT BEHAVIOR.
WHY DO THEY DO IT?
IT’S MY VIEW THAT MANY DO IT IN ORDER TO SATISFY THEIR OWN POLITICAL AND MONETARY GAIN.
HOW DO THEY DO IT?
THEY PREY UPON PEOPLE’S FEARS AND PREJUDICES.
I FIND IT UNCONSCIONABLE THAT A MEMBER OF CONGRESS OR SENATE WOULD ALLOW THIS ABHORRENT BEHAVIOR IN ORDER TO GET ONE MORE SEAT ON THE SUPREME COURT, OR TO OPEN UP ONE MORE ACRE OF OUR NATIONAL PARKS FOR EXPLOITATION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY MAY HONESTLY BELIEVE IN A CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT, OR THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT MINING OUR PRISTINE NATIONAL PARKS IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY, BUT, WHERE IS THE DECENCY?
HOW FAR INTO THE GUTTER WILL PEOPLE GO TO SATISFY THEIR SICK SENSE OF POLITICAL LUST?
I WANT TO THANK THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS EVENT. WHAT WE DO HERE TODAY IS JUST A SMALL PART OF WHAT MUST BE DONE TO RESTORE SOME SENSE OF DIGNITY TO COUNTRY.