Guest Post by
It violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political system. Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. And the same thing applies to governors and U.S. senators and congress members. So now we’ve just seen a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors, who want and expect and sometimes get favors for themselves after the election’s over. … The incumbents, Democrats and Republicans, look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves. Somebody’s who’s already in Congress has a lot more to sell to an avid contributor than somebody who’s just a challenger.
– Jimmy Carter, 39th President of these United States
You know it’s really, really bad when a former U.S. President feels the need to come out and publicly admit the above. While it’s completely accurate and needs to be said, it’s a truly sad moment, and provides further evidence of the Banana Republic America has become.
Of course, Mr. Carter’s comments come on the heels of former Senator Gary Hart’s blistering critique published in back June, which I covered in the post: Former Senator Opines on the Incredible Corruption in America and the Fourth Branch of Government. Here’s an excerpt:
On a more personal level, how can public service be promoted as an ideal to young people when this sewer corrupts our Republic? At this point in early twenty-first-century America, the greatest service our nation’s young people could provide is to lead an army of outraged young Americans armed with brooms on a crusade to sweep out the rascals and rid our capital of the money changers, rent seekers, revolving door dancers, and special interest deal makers and power brokers and send them back home to make an honest living, that is, if they still remember how to do so.
Our ancestors did not depart Europe and elsewhere to seek freedom and self-government alone. They came to these shores to escape social and political systems that were corrosive and corrupt. Two and a quarter centuries later, we are returning to those European practices. We are in danger of becoming a different kind of nation, one our founders would not recognize and would deplore.
In addition to the rise of the national security state, and the concentration of wealth and power in America, no development in modern times sets us apart more from the nation originally bequeathed to us than the rise of the special interest state. There is a Gresham’s law related to the republican ideal. Bad politics drives out good politics. Legalized corruption drives men and women of stature, honor, and dignity out of the halls of government. Self-respecting individuals cannot long tolerate a system of election and reelection so dependent on cultivating the favor of those known to expect access in return. Such a system is corrosive to the soul.
Now listen to Mr. Carter in his own words. You can hear the man’s obvious devastation and depression in his voice.
In case that wasn’t enough for you. I recently came across data from Syracuse University’s TRAC system (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse), which showed that “Federal White Collar Crime Prosecutions At 20-Year Low.” Why am I not surprised.
We learn that…
Federal prosecution of individuals identified by the government as white collar criminals is at its lowest level in the last twenty years, according to the latest data from the Justice Department.
The available records show an overall decline that began during the Clinton Administration, with a steady downward trend — except for a three-year jump early in the Obama years — continuing into the current fiscal year.
During the first nine months of FY 2015, the government brought 5,173 white collar crime prosecutions. If the monthly number of these kinds of cases continues at the same pace until the end of the current fiscal year on September 30, the total will be only 6,897 such matters — down by more than one third (36.8%) from levels seen two decades ago — despite the rise in population and economic activity in the nation during this period.
The decline in federal white collar crime prosecutions does not necessarily indicate there has been a decline in white collar crime. Rather, it may reflect shifting enforcement policies by each of the administrations and the various agencies, the changing availabilities of essential staff and congressionally mandated alterations in the laws.
“The decline in federal white collar crime prosecutions does not necessarily indicate there has been a decline in white collar crime.”
That’s for sure.
“It may reflect shifting enforcement policies by each of the administrations and the various agencies.”
Yes, it reflects captured and corrupt agencies and administrations, which intentionally perpetuate a crony parasitic economy that thrives on backroom deals and fraud.
Currently, fraud by wire, radio or television under 18 USC 1343 tops the list of lead charges. This also topped last year’s list. In second place are frauds involving public money, property or records under 18 USC 641. Bank fraud, which as mentioned above was in first place ten years ago, has fallen to third place.
Freedom.
For related articles, see:
Charting the American Oligarchy – How 0.01% of the Population Contributes 42% of All Campaign Cash
When Asked if the U.S. is a Capitalist Democracy or Oligarchy, Janet Yellen Can’t Answer…
New Report from Princeton and Northwestern Proves It: The U.S. is an Oligarchy
The Pitchforks are Coming…– A Dire Warning from a Member of the 0.01%
The 2014 Elections by the Numbers – Who are the 1% of 1% Driving American Politics?
In Liberty,
Michael Krieger
While complaining about a developing Oligarchy, I’m guessing he will be supporting and voting for the current Democrat/Republican ruling elite.
What a lame ass piece of shit .
I go to Eufaula Alabama several times a year to visit my in-laws. We take the back roads which takes us through Plains,Georgia. As we pass by Jimmy Carter’s place I always give him a one finger salute…much to the dismay of my wife.
Truth is a bitch.
Gary Hart a self serving Ted Kennedy clone has seen the light and now has the best interests of America at heart. Jimmy Carter has developed brains in his old age. I’m a little skeptical.
Jimmy Carter should just shut the fuck up and go build a habitat.
Jimmy Carter was the last President who told us the truth.
Stuck, is that Flash?
Flash who?
You people really like the peanut farmer??
I guess compared to the HNIC, or a pile of dog shit (oops, same thing) I suppose he’s just wonderful.
You people are nuts.
“Jimmy Carter was the last President who told us the truth.” ———– TJF
Riiiiight.
1)- Carter introduced himself as a “nuclear physicist and a peanut farmer.”
He was neither: he held only a bachelor’s degree, and he owned a peanut WAREHOUSE.
2) He said “Just put ‘Jimmy Carter, Plains, Georgia’ on the envelope, and I’ll get it. I open every letter myself and read them all.”
Carter’s press secretary admitted that ALL mail so addressed was forwarded to the campaign staff in Atlanta, and most were unread by Jimmy.
3)- Carter boasted that at the completion of his term as governor he had left Georgia with a budget surplus of $200 million.
It was $43 million ….. all that remained of a $91 million surplus Carter had inherited when he took office.
4)- Carter described an innovative program he had pioneered, employing welfare mothers to care for the mentally handicapped. “You should see them bathing and feeding the retarded children. They’re the best workers we have in the state government.
Fact is, the State Officials are on record as saying no such children exist.
5)- In his book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” repeats lies made in previous books that in the 1967 war Israel preemptively attacked Jordan.
The record is abundantly clear that while preemptively attacking Egypt and Syria, Israel pleaded with Jordan (through American intermediaries) to stay out of the fray. Carter’s lies and fuckups regarding the Middle East are too numerous to mention.
6)- In a 2003 op-ed in USA Today on the North Korean nuclear crisis, he wrote: “There must be verifiable assurances that prevent North Korea from becoming a threatening nuclear power.”
Fact. He fought to allow Pyongyang to have SOME nuclear weapons (just not enough to threaten the USA) , because he believed that was the price of an agreement.
7)- A Born-Again do-gooder who grants an interview to Playboy??? WTF!! He said that he “LOOKED on a lot of women with lust”. Looky but no touchy? Riiiight.
According to his brother, Billy, Jimmy jerked off 17 times a day. Jimmy beat his dick to a flaccid pulp – much like the Iranians did to him during the 444 day hostage crisis …. which Ronnie solved in ONE day.
JCES
Jimmy Cartoon- Unpopular Governor of the state where I am from- Unpopular President of the country in which I live- Would not know the “Truth” if it bit him in the ass.
TJF- You have been terribly misinformed.