Corruption on Capital Hill

Jared Sybrowsky

September 15, 2009

ENG 150, 59

Corruption on Capital Hill

How much do we really know about the people who run our country? As university students we are here to study, and eventually become our county’s future, however; many of us don’t know about some of the most important political issues of our day. Most of us live in the dorms, and therefore don’t have easy access to a TV. When we can use a TV, CNN or FOX News is rarely the first station we tune into. Instead we try to see what has happened in our favorite Soap Opera or Sit-Com. It is important that awareness be raised about the corruption in our government, such as ACORN, or Anthony Van Jones and others in Obama’s inner circle. By exerting just a small amount of effort, it will be easy to figure out what side of the issue we stand on – then we can take action. Through studying the issues of our country, we can truly exemplify a motto of BYU by entering to learn, then going forth to serve – our country.

Do we really know where our tax dollars are going? The ACORN scandal has been all over the news for weeks. For those who don’t know, undercover reporters went into various ARCON offices across the country to ask for help to set up a brothel where illegal immigrants could live and work. Not only did the ACORN employs gladly offer to help, but they encouraged the two reporters with their “business”. What is worse than the shear morals of these people is the fact that up until recently, ACORN was being funded partially by the U.S. government. Reports have come in with numbers as high as $31 Million that the government has given to the ACORN organization in the past ten years. Our tax dollars are being used to keep terrible organizations afloat. The alleged voter fraud in the most recent election does nothing to calm the mind in regards to ACORN. We, the people, need to take a stand against the government funding corporations that has such corruption in it. If the government had done more regular check ups on what ACORN was doing with our money, millions of dollars could have been saved; in a time of such great national debt, that’s exactly what we need. As busy as we are, we need to know what our tax dollars go towards. It’s our responsibility to be proactive in the government - a government that is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

A pattern is beginning to present its self concerning the people who influence our president. During the most recent election, Obama’s relationship with Reverend Wright was a major issue. Wright was Obama’s pastor for over 20 years. The attention of the media was brought to Wright because of his radical and anti-American speeches. With our president sitting in his congregation of over 20 years, there is no way he was not influenced by Wright. Now, I’m not saying Obama shares his view and political ideas; however it worries me that he remained in his congregation for so long. Anthony “Van” Jones was also recently on the news for resigning form his position as the green jobs czar. This man, who has been a friend of President Obama’s for years, has been proven and admitted that he is a communist. We need to be sure that we really look at each person appointed by the president. Just because we don’t elect them doesn’t mean they are out of our control. Seeing these that Obama associates himself with people with such ideals should send up red flags for all of us.

Can we really do anything to help put an end to corruption in the government? Not only can we, but it is our duty. The purpose of this editorial is not to smear President Obama in any way. It is to promote us, the university students, to take hold of our new responsibility as the citizens of our country. If we want our children to have the life we dream of for ourselves, we need to be proactive in finding out the facts and letting the government know we won’t stand idly by. Reverend Wright and Van Jones were both uncovered by the media. News stations saw a problem in our country, and they worked on it until it didn’t threaten us anymore. The ACORN scandal was uncovered by two regular citizens - students in fact - who didn’t have any support system; they decided to find the truth about a questionable organization. Students all over the country need to follow politics and take their role as the future of America, by helping shape it today.