Letter: Corruption Needs Interruption

Will there ever be an end to global corruption by elected officials and others?

This rampant, contagious disease has reached epidemic proportions worldwide and needs to be eradicated or controlled by any means necessary.

At the very least, global corruption needs interruption. Too many of these unscrupulous individuals were elected to lead but were overcome by greed.

Don’t they know that crime doesn’t pay and that money is the root of all evil? Let’s start in our own backyard, “Corruption County.” While no elected officials have been sent to prison recently, due to the watchful eyes of the public, the Office of the Inspector General and County Attorney Denise Nieman and her team. We do have, however, a respected doctor facing corruption charges, accused of bilking millions from Medicare. We also have Joseph Zada of Wellington, a phony money manager who spent $55 million of his clients’ money to enhance his lavish lifestyle.

In Guatemala, former President Otto Perez Molina was forced to resign and now faces corruption charges. He was quoted as saying, “No jail is good,” and hopes the judge gives him an alternative. His vice president was sworn in and immediately demanded the resignation of several top government officials.

In Tehran, the top clerics said the government “must start hunting the big heads” as part of its anti-corruption drive, calling for convincing and assuring steps as proof of the government’s seriousness in implementing its reform plans. The announcement came following large anti-corruption rallies.

Why are there no such statements from our government leaders in this country at the local, state and national levels? Why are there no rallies against corruption and greed in this country?

Instead of rallies and anti-corruption drives, what we have in Palm Beach/Corruption County is several municipalities and special interests intent on derailing the county’s watchdog, ignoring the will of the people, who voted overwhelmingly for a fully funded Office of the Inspector General.

I saved the worst for last.

In Malaysia, tens of thousands protested against their prime minister after a corruption scandal broke. They marched through the streets of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, wearing yellow shirts and blowing horns in a defiant rally demanding the resignation of their prime minister, Najib Razak, who it was revealed received $700 million in his private bank account from organizations and businesses linked to the state fund. He said the money was a donation from the Middle East. Mr. Razak then fired his deputy and four other cabinet members who were investigating him. He also fired the attorney general who was drawing up papers for his arrest. In a defiant statement, he defended his actions, stating that the constitution allowed it.

God bless America and our constitution.

Those of you out there who are corrupt and consumed by greed, in the end, you won’t succeed.

I remember the story of the dog who had a bone in his mouth, came to a creek, saw his reflection in the water, and thinking it was another dog trying to steal its bone, he started barking, only to see his bone fall into the water and be swept away by the current. Crooks beware.

Karl Witter, The Acreage