"But all politicians are corrupt anyway, so even after we elect this new batch, nothing's gonna change."
Loser. Disgusting loser. Putrid loser. All that's needed is a lead with the will to set an uncorruptable bulldog down upon the throats of the cheaters, the liars, the stealers. all those incompetent cronies who only know how to make a living by suckling from the public's teat.
Oh, Mark (you think), you're just a damn 60's hippie thinkin' it's all about gettin' high, and rollin' your lady around in the mud?
Nope. No way, I say, because of my buddy Tom Sucher's story.
Tom was interviewed by Old Mayor J. Richard to take over the running and computerizing of the Department of Motor Vehicles for Chicago. The newspapers were brimming with reports of the Graylord corruption scandals whereby numerous Chicago Judges and Bailiffs were caught afflicting the outcomes of DMV cases based on bribes split between the Bailiffs (who called when each case would be adjudicated) and the Judges.
During their interview, Hizzoner learned that Tom had been in computers with the Air Force for 6 years since 1954, and then subsequnetly with Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Illinois. Tom fully disclosed that he was terminated from BC / BS by its President who wistfully noted: "Tom, you have too much imagination to be an insurance industry executive."
"How soon can you start?" the Mayor asked.
"Tomorrow, you honor, however, before I accept this position, we need to clarify that my family and I are currently residents of the Arlington Heights, Illinois community. My children go to school there, their friends live there, and that is where we will continue to make our life. For me to take this job, I require that the Chicago residency requirement of all Chicago City Employees be waived. For I cannot begin my job to root out corruption with a lie; a cheap apartment with a city address for the sake of mere appearance. That would be tantamount to fighting corruption with corruption. And that fight will always fail."
"You can start tomorrow then, Tom?"
"Yes sir!"
"Be at your desk by 8 a.m. I'll see you then."
Upon arriving at his desk, a DMV employee walked into Tom's office to ask, "Will it be business as usual, Boss?"
"I'm not sure what business as usual means," replied Tom.
The employee then put on the desk a paper sack full of money.
Tom looked into the sack, gently pushed it away, and said, "No. It will not be business as usual today, or ever again here. Take this away."
And that is how you uproot institutional corruption. Have the overall leader take the lead, appoint the new broom to sweep clean; have the overall leader make clear his unequivocal support of the new broom, and watch as the changes happen.
It just takes two men of strong will and unimpeachable character. Just two.
Do we have these two men anywhere in the U.S. House of Representatives?
How about - Joe Walsh and Dennis Kucinich?
Now, what a coalition that would be.
post script: Tom's second born son, Scott Sucher, would blow up the family basement a half dozen times while engaging in chemical science experiments. Scott has grown up to be the world's leading authority on historic gems, and is the unrivaled best diamond counterfitter who has ever lived.
Working for Mayor Daley also permitted Tom the honor of meeting one of his personal political heroes, Harry S. Truman who was in Chicago for a visit with the mayor. One of those typical left coast stories, that happens even here, here in the heartland of the midwest, in the Great State of Illinois, in its Great Windy City, Chicago.
