BRIBING POLITICIANS DESERVES HARSH PENALTIES

For fourteen years, Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham was a member of the United States House of Representatives for California’s 50th Congressional District. During that time, he received over two million dollars in bribes, mainly from defense contractors. He resigned from his post last year. On March 2006, a judge sentenced him to over 8 years in prison. In addition, he has to pay close to two million dollars in restitution.

One defense contractor bought Cunningham’s house for close to two million dollars, and then sold it for about $700,000 less. Soon after the purchase, the man’s firm received tens of millions of dollars in government contracts. In addition to hard cash, Cunningham received jewelry, gifts, the use of a yacht and a Rolls Royce, and other assorted goodies.

Now federal investigators report Cunningham’s influence peddling and maneuverings helped other companies get contracts to the tune of more than 70 million dollars. The former Congressman should have received a harsher sentence. He will probably get out of jail in three or four years, if not sooner. Betraying the public’s trust calls for a longer sentence. However, now that Cunningham is where he belongs, I hope the government does a good job prosecuting the co-conspirators.

Go hard on them. Give nothing less than long jail terms to the individuals involved, and big fines to the companies that benefited from those deals. Imagine awarding defense and intelligence contracts not to the firms with the better products or the lowest bids, but to the ones that pay our politicians the most money. I know that “In God We Trust,” but knowing we can have faith in those who represent us would not hurt. Our lives, our safety, and our well-being are at stake.

Therefore, have a zero tolerance policy on corrupt persons inside and outside of government. It takes two to tango. Break up their chance to dance. If they get to dance in spite our efforts, then make them continue practicing those moves inside a jail cell. Give them all the time we feel necessary for them to put their act together.

Recommended Reading: Ercian Testament - Part III, chapter 26 “Matters of Concern.”