by Lenna Gonya

Created on: August 02, 2010   Last Updated: August 03, 2010

Politicians who accept free meals, expensive trips, gifts, and other perks are part of the time honored tradition of politics called “palm greasing." While this is nothing new, it is still unethical, and no amount of rationalizing explains away a bribe.

Anyone in a political position, capable of making decisions benefiting one group or another, has been approached by some lobbyist or special interest group. They may disguise themselves as simply well-meaning supporters, but they ultimately have an agenda. The politician knows this, or should, and if he or she wants to maintain some credibility with their constituents, they should run the other way.

Politicians caught in the act of accepting little presents now and then have developed any number of excuses. It was only a friendly meeting, that meant nothing, the other person involved was a family friend, or it was a legitimate contribution. If, for some reason, the politician actually believes this, then the intelligence he or she needs for their job is in question.

No one in the world of politics does something for nothing. It is the job of lobbyists and special interest groups to push their plans and goals and get results, ethical or not. To the discredit of many politicians, they have been successful in their plans in the past, and they are aware that they can be successful in the future.

Whether the politician intends to give his benefactors some “pay back”, or whether he doesn’t, either way the behavior is unethical at best. Accepting the bribe is, of course, unethical. And, allowing the petitioner to believe that they are gaining some ground for their money is equally unethical.

In this day and age when media coverage is extensive, and even the public has access to voting records, relationships, and political maneuverings, any politician who knowingly accepts gifts or forms personal trysts with lobbyists, is only asking for trouble at the next election once they are exposed.

Amazingly enough, this practice has, in recent months, worked its way to the top, and become so blatant that some people do, actually, find it no longer shocking. Payoffs have become so commonplace and obvious, that if they weren’t against everything that our government is supposed to represent, they would be funny. The practice has worked its way into the Congress and Senate where a new kind of bribe has been initiated to influence voting within the very walls of the capitol.

Apparently, the only way to change unethical behavior among politicians and express the disapproval of bribery as a method of legislation, is to remove those involved.

 

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