[mcmama]

We've had discussions on another thread about corrupt governments, courts, etc. I believe that NJ has to be the most corrupt state in the USA, but I hear from a friend that Louisiana could be a close second. And I remember when I lived in Chicago how machine politics could affect voting and voting districts. Don't want people in a certain district to vote? Just change their polling place to something difficult to find, inconvenient.

Then there's scandal. NY and NJ have certainly had their fair share with their governors. Now is there any place in the world more scandalous?

So what is your experience with corruption in local or state government? And outside the USA, tell us what level of corruption you see locally. What do we do about it?

[lobo101]

Let me be the first to answer your last question.
It goes without saying but to start the ball rolling, here goes; power and greed, all we need to cure is the want of power and greed.

We are all guilty of it, wanting more than we have, its human nature. Its just that with some people it goes to their head, it consumes them.
Sound familiar, Janet? Ha ha
Seriously, although what I just wrote plays a part, it seems we can never get rid of corruption, its like, just there and always will be.

[pattiewrites]

Originally Posted by mcmama

Don't want people in a certain district to vote? Just change their polling place to something difficult to find, inconvenient.

Don't forget lovely Florida. If you're the governor and your brother is running for president, just list 50,000 voters from the other party as felons (when they have never committed a crime) and deny their right to vote. This is how many black people were turned away from the polls in 2000. Then have your mistress stop any recounts and certify your brother as president. The corruption is all over this country and it is really depressing. I'm not sure how to get rid of it. Yes, we speak with our votes, but there is corruption on both sides so it is even more difficult.

I think for individual states and local governments, people really need to pay attention better. People tend to focus on national elections for the president and congress, but few bother to learn about their local government officials. These people sit on the board/council of the local municipality and they have more influence over daily life than the president ever would. So I'd say get more involved, attend local governement meetings and vote in local elections. I cover local politics for a paper in my area and I can tell you the room is nearly empty, every single month. I am there and a handful of local residents. Most of the rest are home watching American Idol and blissfully unaware of major decisions being made that will impact their lives.

[mcmama]

Florida's got issues with voting, period.

She was Jebs mistress???? I had no idea. The plot sickens.

I am happy to see that the current and former officials of the local democratic party have been subpoenaed about their alleged falsification of documents for an election. For years it has been like a little club - you're not part of the club, you don't get the perks. With populism and reform on the rise, people just don't let this go anymore. And in NJ, corruption costs the taxpayer big money.

The dissappearing election site I mentioned in my original post happened during my college years in the Chicago area (Evanston). For years, students voted in the auditorium on my college campus. When the local republicans decided they didn't want the student voting bloc to change things, they changed the voting place for the campus district to a basement in an alley behind a popular restaurant. You could not find the address anywhere, it looked like the place did not exist. There were no signs put out until late in the day. Fortunately, one of the democratic candidate's supporters sat in the restaurant all day looking out the window for lost faces, and would periodically run out the door and say "the voting place is here. In here. In the alley. Downstairs" She couldn't campaign, of course, and she didn't - but she was pretty much at risk of being accused of doing so. Anyway, the tactic worked, the powers that were at the time had their way.

Of course, this was NOTHING compared to what Daley's democratic machine was doing in Chicago.

[lobo101]

I have breifly touched on the subject of the forthcoming experience on another forum, but i'll be a bit more specific on this forum here. [This is what I feel is N.J. corruption]
Here we have the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics [OAE] who determine that greivance complaint that I filed against one of their own, is without merit and subsequently dissmissed. To be fair the panel that dissmissed the complaint is made up of six of their own and three non-biased citizens of this Garden State. [It might just be me but somehow I do not think these citizens have a home address anywhere near skidrow or underneath the Boardwalk. They would know what a finger bowl is and what to do with it at a fancy restaraunt.] Is there a pattern developing here?
That withstanding, I filed an appeal with the people that supposedly keep the OAE inline. This outfit is called the "New Jersey Supreme Court Division of the Disciplinary Review Board." [DRB] Then, without out any further testimony or evidence exchange, this board reverses the OAE's decision and remands it back to them to be re-investigated with a different look-see'er.
I thought I had'em. The DRB must have reversed and remanded back to the OAE for them to "get it right" this time. The evidence was same? The DRB obviously seen something.
To my horror the OAE dissmissed my complaint again. Why? What kind of sense does it make, if not that this proves intervention of somekind?
I gets better, It is now that through my own investigations I find out that the respondent not only lied to the OAE, but the DRB as well.
I filed a second appeal. Keep in mind that the original testimony and evidence has not changed except for my new found incrininating evidence. I surely won my greivance this time one would think.
Nope, for the second and last time my case is dissmissed completely. This time with an attached letter stating the following rule, 1:20-3 [D]3 " The secratary with concurrance by a designated public member [of the local country club] shall decline jurisdiction if the facts stated in the inquiry or greivance, if true, would not constitute unethical conduct or incapacity."
Anybody out in Rutgers wanna tackle this one?

[lobo101]

I was wondering if anybody could report any ongoing corruption in the State of Oregon. This State is somewhat considered Utopian [I do not mock] in their values. Did you know that not one inch of the coast line beaches are privately owned?

[pattiewrites]

Originally Posted by mcmama

Florida's got issues with voting, period.

She was Jebs mistress???? I had no idea. The plot sickens.

This was reported on the evening news. At the time, we were living just north of Palm Beach and our network TV was the West Palm affiiliates, so I'm sure we heard a lot more than the rest of the U.S.

[mcmama]

Was this on the national news, or just the local?

I often don't pay attention to the national television "evening news" because it is not very in depth and often reflects a bias. I read more, mostly on the internet, and watch commentary on cable. I used to watch News Hour on PBS, but stopped when it got too hard for me to give a full hour to focusing at that time of day. Now that my last kid is almost out of the house, I hope to go back to enjoying that one!

I don't know how I missed this juicy tidbit.

[pattiewrites]

It was a local station. I googled it and there are tons of stories still out there. This was not a good time for Jeb. First this, then his wife getting busted at customs for sneaking in over 30K worth of merchandise without declaring it at customs. Then his daughter passing forged prescriptions for oxycontin and valium at 6 different Walgreens around the state. (of course, no jail, short rehab time and no felony charges)

Anyway, I digress, here are a few links:

http://www.americanpolitics.com/2000...edfellows.html
http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/...10/54913.shtml

The late night talk shows had a field day with it too. Leno did some jokes about the enormous amount of make up that must have been on Jeb's shirt collar.

[lobo101]

I do not know if this is the right thread for this complaint, but the moderator thread is locked up.

The title to my thread that I started last week has been altered as if was not the truth. I have sent evidence that the subject of title is to be who I had claimed. The subject stated that he/she not only funded a company, but also worked for same company.
This would mean the subject would have a possible direct understanding of the company's policy, procedure and any wrongdoings. Is it wrong to ask this subject why the company he/she funds ands "works" for was stripped of their license.
My thread statements also are appaarently deemed by the administration to have a "bashing" quality in their tone. My comments do not malign, they simply tell the truth infused with a little emotion. So far I have received no word back as to why my thread starter was altered, nor the evidence of proof I submitted to the administration passed on to the readers of the thread.