Money is the root of all evil.
I don’t believe that.
But money is the root of a lot of evil.
I offer two areas.
Politics!
Need I say more.
We all know political action committees for both major parties collect fortunes to enforce their views, fortunes that could be used for teacher salaries or affordable housing for the homeless or any number of other worthy causes. Our Supreme Court, the place we look to for sanity, decided allowing unlimited contributions by corporations was just dandy. Does anyone seriously think that the National Rifle Association or Walmart or Disney or Big Sugar or any of the myriad others with deep pockets is going to lobby on behalf of Mr. or Ms. Normal American?
The lust for money by a politician doesn’t end with election success. From what I read, representatives in Congress are expected to spend half their waking hours raising more. I have no trouble believing this. I receive email request after email request to give whatever I can to save the country from the baddies on the other side of the political spectrum. In fact, they ask me to give whatever I can every few days, trying to scare me with the horrors that will result if I don’t.
So what does it mean? It means the political process is more financial than issue oriented. It means that, since raising funds is the road to success, doing the donor’s bidding is the road to security—and nails in the coffin of integrity.
So here we are with a “democracy” controlled by money where the interests of the many of low or moderate means are secondary to the interests of the few with fortunes at their disposal.
That’s one area. I’ll return to it in a bit.
Then there are the recent revelations about the wealthy paying huge sums so their pampered babes will be accepted by “prestigious” schools.
Won’t do well on the entrance exam? No problem. I’ll pay one person to take it for you and another to look the other way.
Grades aren’t good? No problem. With a little money I can get those grades changed.
Did poorly in high school, perhaps sat around playing video games while simultaneously developing a weak body? No problem. We’ll get you an athletic scholarship for the hockey team. And don’t worry, you won’t even have to show up—we own the coach.
Both our examples, politics and education, have similar scenarios. Someone with lots of money wants something. That’s not necessarily bad. But what is bad is the assumption that the money should be able to purchase what is wanted, even when it is basically unfair.
I detest the privilege assumed by those with the money, but it’s the ones who take it that earn the appellation “slime.” These people toss integrity to the winds to line their pockets or ambition.
Politicians want to be in office so badly they will pledge allegiance to those providing the means—misplacing their loyalty and integrity at the expense of their constituents. Slime.
Coaches, admission officers, administrators who sell places in a freshman class are worse. They defile the basic tenets of education—truth, integrity, character. All for extra cash at the expense of worthier students denied admission. Slime!
And shame on them all!
I don’t believe that.
But money is the root of a lot of evil.
I offer two areas.
Politics!
Need I say more.
We all know political action committees for both major parties collect fortunes to enforce their views, fortunes that could be used for teacher salaries or affordable housing for the homeless or any number of other worthy causes. Our Supreme Court, the place we look to for sanity, decided allowing unlimited contributions by corporations was just dandy. Does anyone seriously think that the National Rifle Association or Walmart or Disney or Big Sugar or any of the myriad others with deep pockets is going to lobby on behalf of Mr. or Ms. Normal American?
The lust for money by a politician doesn’t end with election success. From what I read, representatives in Congress are expected to spend half their waking hours raising more. I have no trouble believing this. I receive email request after email request to give whatever I can to save the country from the baddies on the other side of the political spectrum. In fact, they ask me to give whatever I can every few days, trying to scare me with the horrors that will result if I don’t.
So what does it mean? It means the political process is more financial than issue oriented. It means that, since raising funds is the road to success, doing the donor’s bidding is the road to security—and nails in the coffin of integrity.
So here we are with a “democracy” controlled by money where the interests of the many of low or moderate means are secondary to the interests of the few with fortunes at their disposal.
That’s one area. I’ll return to it in a bit.
Then there are the recent revelations about the wealthy paying huge sums so their pampered babes will be accepted by “prestigious” schools.
Won’t do well on the entrance exam? No problem. I’ll pay one person to take it for you and another to look the other way.
Grades aren’t good? No problem. With a little money I can get those grades changed.
Did poorly in high school, perhaps sat around playing video games while simultaneously developing a weak body? No problem. We’ll get you an athletic scholarship for the hockey team. And don’t worry, you won’t even have to show up—we own the coach.
Both our examples, politics and education, have similar scenarios. Someone with lots of money wants something. That’s not necessarily bad. But what is bad is the assumption that the money should be able to purchase what is wanted, even when it is basically unfair.
I detest the privilege assumed by those with the money, but it’s the ones who take it that earn the appellation “slime.” These people toss integrity to the winds to line their pockets or ambition.
Politicians want to be in office so badly they will pledge allegiance to those providing the means—misplacing their loyalty and integrity at the expense of their constituents. Slime.
Coaches, admission officers, administrators who sell places in a freshman class are worse. They defile the basic tenets of education—truth, integrity, character. All for extra cash at the expense of worthier students denied admission. Slime!
And shame on them all!
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