"Executive Order -- Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel" was signed by our new president on January 21, 2009. I was mildly impressed. After 16 years of unethical behaviour and, frankly, sexual deviance in the White House, it was nice to see someone stand up for doing the right thing. I suggested two breaths ago that I was "mildly" impressed. Making bold statements like this ultimately leads to getting caught in one's own snare. It is inevitable.
Enter Bill Lynn, the new deputy secretary for the Department of Defense, and now former Vice President of Raytheon. The snare is set. Mr. Lynn has lobbied heavily on behalf of Raytheon to secure contracts for the shareholders and employees of this defense contractor. In deputizing him, the Obama administration has successfully found an exception to the rule before the ink has even dried. I'm sure he is a great guy. I'm sure he has tremendous intellect. I'm sure he'll go back to lobbying once he leaves DoD. Shameful, I say, shameful.
My detractors, which shall go nameless, suggest that the last eight years have been burdened with such exceptions and underhanded dealings that this pales in comparison, so let it fly. That's not good enough. It is also not good enough that we will now sequester Mr. Lynn in such a way that his role and actions do not influence areas where he once peddled influence, where he once prostituted himself and his company to gain the almighty dollar. All of it is the red-light district to me.
Folks, isn't it about time we did away with influence peddling outright? Is there not another system we can create that allows companies to speak to their products and services without the unscrupulous nature of the political lobby interfering? There is such a system. Ready. Drum roll please. It's called the market - the free market in fact. It's so amazing that companies that espouse the free market system turn and do everything in their power to subvert it. They give so much money to both Pubs and Dems to counteract the very root of our economic system: freedom.
Mr. President, don't make these types of mistakes again and again (see Geithner). It is unbecoming, Harvard education and all.
As always, be thankful for what you have, buy only what you need, and work diligently for peace. I shall try to do the same. From the Queen City, I bid you a good night and a happy Friday.
3 years ago
