Lord Acton is credited with the quote, “Power corrupts; Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It was in an 1887 letter to Bishop Creighton discussing how the same moral standards should apply to all men (and women), including political and religious leaders. The famous quote was part of a longer quote, but this ending was the remembered part. Let’s face it; it’s so applicable in life.
Today, in Washington, it’s a way of life. Many of our elected officials, those people we choose to handle our affairs of state, are at the pay-out windows of lobbyists working to get the bidding of their masters done. The politician says one thing, then figures a way to do the opposite, preferably without their role being found out.
For example, last week Hillary Clinton appeared before the House Committee investigating Benghazi. Despite email evidence showing she told her family that night three years ago Americans were killed by an al-Qaeda like group and the next morning, she told the Egyptian Prime Minister it wasn’t because of the video, later in the testimony, she said it was caused by the video. That was but one of many lies she gave the committee that day, yet she didn’t leave in handcuffs for perjury. She left in triumph, knowing she was protected. The media mentioned the 11 hour “marathon” appearance. It was actually about five hours, because the Democrats on the committee did nothing but cover for her. Hillary said she took responsibility for what happened, but, like the progressive she is, proceeded to blame everyone under her.
Another example, the Department of (In)Justice announced that Lois Lerner, of the IRS scandal against the Tea Party and other Conservative groups, would not be charged with any crimes. So many lies were revealed in these hearings, but this DoJ isn’t interested in the truth. Let’s face it, the former Attorney General, Eric Holder, spent a good portion of his term under contempt of Congress. They made the announcement Lerner was going free just days before they announced the creation of a new “domestic terrorist” office. I’m pretty sure they won’t be looking for the ISIS members coming into the country in the guise of being a refugee. Go back to 2009, when the then-Homeland Security Secretary said the new terrorists were the veterans who were coming home, the Tea Party and those clinging to their guns and Bibles. Oh, wait; that last one was actually Barack Obama.
I mentioned that only the end of Lord Acton’s quote was remembered, but the full quote is as follows: “And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that. All power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Perhaps Lord Acton could see the future.
marjarhead1 