Where”s the beef?
By Jim Hall
Last week our president, who I personally have very high hopes for as this country”s leader, told the nations in Africa that they need to end the high degree of corruption in their countries. I found this advice to be very embarrassing, as for the past few years the high degree of corruption in our own system would make his comments seem like the pot calling the kettle black. Who out there feels our government has put a halt to our own ongoing corruption? I believe corruption is alive and well in our corporate sector, our federal and state governments, the health industry, etc.
We have seen the population of our prisons grow from all those who have used our very flawed system of laws to stuff there personal pockets with funds gained by selling and promoting products they knew would cause great harm and losses to so many of our nation”s citizens. Even now, we learn that the credit card industry is profiting from unfair, excess fees and penalties to all those who use the cards.
Our government has yet to make the real changes that send a message that these and many other corrupt practices will not be tolerated in the future. And that violation of any and all truly fair business practices will result in severe penalties, such as jail time and total loss of assets gained by corrupt actions.
I am afraid that when the new health industry changes are finally passed, and they will pass, we will, as a people, be asking the age-old question, “Where”s the beef?”
The same will go for the lost retirement plans, the lessening of our former standard of living for the working class, and of the American dream that we all have held dear. What was possible, even expected, has been wiped out these past 30 years, and I, for one, put the blame for this on a government of representatives who no longer represent the majority of our citizens, but only the powerful few. Our nation needs to clean up its own yard before telling others to clean up theirs.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
