On August 6, 2015 the first debate between the Republican candidates for U.S President in 2016 was held in Cleveland, Ohio.  By some remarkable coincidence, the headline in the August 6, 2015 edition of Newsday said “Pensions for Corrupt Pols”.  According to the Newsday article, at least 13 former state elected officials who were convicted of corruption and other charges are still eligible to collect state pension checks totaling more than $604,000 a year. Eleven of the former lawmakers and officials driven from office by criminal convictions have been eligible to collect state pensions even while in prison. 

            In the August 24, 2015 edition of Newsday, an article stated that hundreds of Nassau County contracts worth a total of nearly $10 million have been awarded in recent years at amounts just dollars below the threshold for legislative approval.  Apparently, many of the pacts went to politically connected companies without competitive bidding, and were never openly discussed, debated or voted on.  Robert Freedman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, said “It would appear an effort is being made to diminish scrutiny on the part of the public and the legislature, in particular.  If indeed there’s an effort to avoid scrutiny, perhaps the practice needs to be revisited”. 

            Often I feel like government is at best incompetent and inefficient and at worst totally corrupt.  For years we have been regaled with stories of elected officials using their power and influence for personal gain.  They are similar to Little League coaches who instead of choosing to coach for the benefit of the team choose to coach so their child can pitch and bat first.  It is very disheartening to the electorate when they feel like the people they are electing into office are without moral fiber, integrity or conviction.  Instead, many have been convicted. 

            According to a source, from 2010-2015, 83 American state and local politicians have been convicted of crimes they committed in office, which includes all elected officials, their staff and appointees.  It does not include scandals, accusations, arrests or indictments that have not led to convictions (my calculator broke trying to tally that total).  Also excluded are crimes which occur outside the politician’s tenure in office (you can insert your own joke here).  Of this total of 83, 18 came from New York.  We should change our name from the Empire State to the Incarcerated State.  The New York State Department of Tourism should run ads proclaiming, “Come to Sing Sing or Dannemora and meet your representatives”. 

            The next Republican debate is scheduled for September 16, 2015 and the first Democratic debate is scheduled for October 13, 2015.  I will admit that I am not overly enthusiastic about watching these carnivals.  I recently read an article online that discussed how apathetic our younger voters are regarding the 2016 election.  How can you blame them?  Every time you turn around another politician is caught with their hands in the cookie jar, or stealing the cookies, the jar and the whole kitchen.  The Right to Vote is a precious right that brave men and women have died for to allow us that right and privilege.  Many nations could only dream of an election process to choose their next leader.  However, I am hoping that a few candidates (or even one candidate) will give us a reason to go to the polls with some zeal.  That they will not use their office to solely feather their own nest while depriving those who put them into office of even having a nest.  That they will articulate a platform with conviction and promise to follow through with action.  That they will be accountable, inspiring, motivating and worthy of public office.  The electorate should demand this, and those who gave their life deserve this.