Pearls of Wisdom
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If one were to evaluate the individuals that supposedly represent us locally and nationally, we have a right to be disappointed. The greed, the promiscuity and the lack of integrity is appalling on all levels. In the New York Times on Saturday, May 19, 2012, an article stated that Senator Harold Brooks of Kentucky, head of the Senate Appropriations Committee, negotiated a contract to purchase drip pans for Navy helicopters for $17,000 each. Of course, the factory happens to be located in his district in Kentucky.
One of the competitors bid on the contract, apparently with pans that sell for $2,500. Even assuming the quality to be slightly less, the price differential is exorbitant. The problem is not that Senator Brooks did something unethical, but rather that none of us are even remotely surprised.
John Corzine was elected governor of New Jersey in 2005. The news media touted him as a financial genius, former CEO at Goldman Sachs, one of the top brokerage firms in the world. He was going to fix all the financial ills in the State of New Jersey and put us on solid economic footing.
He did manage to increase the sales tax from 6% to 7% during his term, what little good that did for the state. Four years later, in 2010, we were still looking for answers. What went wrong? How could Corzine have failed us? (Anyone remember Paula Katz, President of Local 1034, who had an affair with Corzine – large payoff involved?)
Now we know the real truth! MF Global is the laughing stock of the financial world. They are on the front page of the New York Times Business Section three times a week. John Corzine, CEO of MF Global, had no idea what was going on when his firm paid off financial shortfalls with client funds! Please, spare me!
A Corzine spokesperson defended him, saying, “Corzine never gave any instruction to misuse customer funds and never intended anyone at MF Global to misuse customer funds.”
I can’t speak for everyone else, but I totally believe that!!! Duh!
Let’s not forget our charismatic presidential candidate, John Edwards. Another stellar example of marital fidelity, Edwards simply fathered a baby with his mistress, Rielle Hunter, while his wife was suffering from terminal cancer. And let’s not forget that Edwards convinced one of his aides, Andrew Young, to take the fall, declaring the baby was his.
Edwards was recently indicted on charges by the prosecution that he had used campaign funds exceeding $1 million to hide his mistress and their child from the public and his wife, Elizabeth. Edwards' trial was recently declared a mistrial, with the jury unable to reach a verdict on five out of six counts. Finally, Elizabeth Edwards has passed away at 61 years of age from her disease, while John is free and able to pursue his lifestyle of obscenity and betrayal.
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November elections are almost upon us. We can all just continue to put our heads in the sand and vote Democratic or Republican and forget about the candidates and what they represent. Or we can do something radical! We can actually do our due diligence and educate ourselves on the candidates and make an effort to do better, to elect people to public office who are working for us, not for themselves.
If we can’t do it for a sense of moral indignation, let us at least make the effort for our children, who deserve a better future than our government is providing.
Julio Lasval
7:09 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
There is no earthly man that can turn this nation around; it is to far gone. Only with the mercy of God can we be restored and put on the road to healing.
Tracy Mattei
7:54 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
IDK Billy, I like the idea that all sins are forgiven and all bad choices are too.
Howard L. Pearl
1:06 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Julio: Perfectly cited by a true gentleman. Amen.
Nice Jewish Boy from Fort Lee
7:22 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
What this country needs is a "Statesman or Stateswoman". The past, current, and future batch of politicians, on the federal, state, and local level, are simply self-serving individuals who, after only being concerned about getting re-elected, are greedy, arrogant, and could care less about the future of our children, grandchildren, and our country as we know it.
When members of the electorate make lame comments such as: "Yeah, too bad thats all BS," it does little or nothing to change the current political atmosphere, and smacks of complacency. Only educated, enlightened, and active members of our society and country are the only group that will save this country from doom and disaster.
Our young college-age and high school-age children must be educated and encouraged to get actively involved in an effort to save us from the dust bin of history.
William Mays
8:40 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
I was talking about the religious statement by Julio, I have no problem with Howard's blog.
Howard L. Pearl
9:40 am on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
To NJB from Fort Lee: With your eloquent way of stating the truth, you should have your own blog. Please ignore BM's comments; the rest of us learned to do that long ago.
One Hung Low
12:35 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
Pearly, I see what you mean about this BM person. Why does Patch allow him or her to remain here?
Howard L. Pearl
8:52 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Patch has a policy of allowing individuals to speak anonymously, and the majority of bloggers use pseudonyms, as you do. There are many people who fear ramifications if they express ideas publicly that may offend people or even embarrass family members or friends. The problem is that anonymity allows outrageous comments that are often quite offensive and/or inane. For example, BM's comment above about various pseudonyms used by one individual. How would BM be privy to such information or is it even true?
Howard L. Pearl
11:28 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
To OHL:
We are all sensitive to criticism. But as many of my friends say "If you are going to dish it out, you better be able to take it! Blogging with your name attached has its negative ramifications, but it also informs people that you are proud of who you are and not afraid to take strong positions. Hopefully, my family is proud of my blogging. My sons even edit some of my blogs for me and make helpful suggestions.
One Hung Low
8:30 am on Friday, June 15, 2012
Harry Truman once said: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."
What he meant was: Don't persist with a task if the pressure of it is too much for you. The implication being that, if you can't cope, you should leave the work to someone who can.
People are entitled to their opinions about just about anything and everything; however, some contributors should try to keep their comments to themselves and appear to be ignorant and stupid, rather than posting them and removing all doubt.
This is a general observation and is not directed to any one particular person. Also, I will no longer comment about anyone I consider a reprobate, a speculator, or an instigator. The overwhelming problems our country faces right now circumvents any trivial nonsense, gossip, idle chatter, or unbridled speculation about other posters here . Life is too short to engage in meaningless exercises in futility.
You said it best when you said: "We can actually do our due diligence and educate ourselves on the candidates and make an effort to do better, to elect people to public office who are working for us, not for themselves." And that is the essence of this thread.