Viewpoints
Making Silk Out of Sow's Ears
By Jay Jones
February 25, 2008
Monday
The article in Sitnews on Feb.23rd concerning the conviction
of James C. Hayes for Theft, Money Laundering, etc, etc, fails
to mention that the "grants" in question were actually
earmarks. Maybe the lawmaker who submitted the earmarks should
have checked on the character of the recipient more thoroughly,
even if he was the ex-mayor of Fairbanks. But wait! The lawmaker
was The Hon. Ted Stevens! And The ex-Hon James C. Hayes used
to work for (and live with) The Hon. (as for now) Ted Stevens.
For all we know The ex-Hon James C. Hayes wrote his own earmarks.
So what do we know about earmarks?
They are bi-partisan. We know (in spite of what most politicians
and the local media will tell you) that they are convenient tools
to enrich one's self and staffers (Check out who owns land around
the proposed Knik Arm Bridge). And they are used to garner campaign
contributions (Road to Nowhere, Florida).
So I am curious, in this culture
of graft that earmarks facilitate, why anyone would so vehemently
endorse them. It's a no-brainer why most politicians like them.
It's a direct quid pro quo for campaign contributions, jobs,
etc .
Who owns land near the imagined
"Bridge To Nowhere". And will they complain about
rising assessments while local politicians scramble to figure
out how to spend (head) tax money on art while raising utility
fees on said land and granting exemptions to private enterprise
for said utilities?(WHEW)
If "all politics is local",
is the 9 trillion dollar debt local also? Where did all the money
go, "Fourth Estate"?
Jay Jones
Ketchikan, AK
Received February 25, 2008
- Published February 25, 2008
Related News:
FORMER
FAIRBANKS MAYOR FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY, MISAPPLICATION OF
GOVERNMENT GRANT FUNDS, MONEY LAUNDERING AND FILING FALSE TAX
RETURNS - Acting United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler
announced that on February 11, 2008, that after deliberating
for 5 days, a Fairbanks jury found James C. Hayes, of Fairbanks,
Alaska, guilty of 16 counts of Conspiracy, Theft from a Program
Receiving Federal Funds, Money Laundering and Filing False Tax
Returns. - More...
February 23, 2008
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