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Forum Post: the amazing president of uruguay

Posted 9 years ago on Dec. 19, 2014, 1:07 p.m. EST by flip (7101)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

"If anyone could claim to be leading by example in an age of austerity, it is José Mujica, Uruguay's president, who has forsworn a state palace in favour of a farmhouse, donates the vast bulk of his salary to social projects, flies economy class and drives an old Volkswagen Beetle.

But the former guerrilla fighter is clearly disgruntled by those who tag him "the world's poorest president" and – much as he would like others to adopt a more sober lifestyle – the 78-year-old has been in politics long enough to recognise the folly of claiming to be a model for anyone.

But the man who is best known as Pepe says those who consider him poor fail to understand the meaning of wealth. "I'm not the poorest president. The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live," he said. "My lifestyle is a consequence of my wounds. I'm the son of my history. There have been years when I would have been happy just to have a mattress." Advertisement He shares the home with his wife,Lucía Topolansky, a leading member of Congress who has also served as acting president.

As I near the home of Uruguay's first couple, the only security detail is two guards parked on the approach road, and Mujica's three-legged dog, Manuela. Mujica cuts an impressively unpolished figure. Wearing lived-in clothes and well-used footwear, the bushy-browed farmer who strolls out from the porch resembles an elderly Bilbo Baggins emerging from his Hobbit hole to scold an intrusive neighbour.

The president is a former member of the Tupamaros guerrilla group, which wasnotorious in the early 1970s for bank robberies, kidnappings and distributing stolen food and money among the poor. He was shot by police six times and spent 14 years in a military prison, much of it in dungeon-like conditions. Since becoming leader of Uruguay in 2010, however, he has won plaudits worldwide for living within his means, decrying excessive consumption and pushing ahead with policies on same-sex marriage, abortion and cannabis legalisation that have reaffirmed Uruguay as the most socially liberal country in Latin America.

But the man who is best known as Pepe says those who consider him poor fail to understand the meaning of wealth. "I'm not the poorest president. The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live," he said. "My lifestyle is a consequence of my wounds. I'm the son of my history. There have been years when I would have been happy just to have a mattress."

As I near the home of Uruguay's first couple, the only security detail is two guards parked on the approach road, and Mujica's three-legged dog, Manuela. Mujica cuts an impressively unpolished figure. Wearing lived-in clothes and well-used footwear, the bushy-browed farmer who strolls out from the porch resembles an elderly Bilbo Baggins emerging from his Hobbit hole to scold an intrusive neighbour

Uruguay's options to improve society are limited, he believes, by the power of global capital. "I'm just sick of the way things are. We're in an age in which we can't live without accepting the logic of the market," he said. "Contemporary politics is all about short-term pragmatism. We have abandoned religion and philosophy … What we have left is the automatisation of doing what the market tells us." The president lives within his means and promotes the use of renewable energy and recycling in his government's policies. At the United Nations' Rio+20 conference on sustainable development last year, he railed against the "blind obsession" to achieve growth through greater consumption.

But, with Uruguay's economy ticking along at a growth rate of more than 3%, Mujica – somewhat grudgingly, it seems – accepts he must deliver material expansion. "I'm president. I'm fighting for more work and more investment because people ask for more and more," he said. "I am trying to expand consumption but to diminish unnecessary consumption … I'm opposed to waste – of energy, or resources, or time. We need to build things that last. That's an ideal, but it may not be realistic because we live in an age of accumulation."

Asked for a solution to this contradiction, the president admits he doesn't have the answers, but the former Marxist said the search for a solution must be political. "We can almost recycle everything now. If we lived within our means – by being prudent – the 7 billion people in the world could have everything they needed. Global politics should be moving in that direction," he said. "But we think as people and countries, not as a species."

. "The world will always need revolution. That doesn't mean shooting and violence. A revolution is when you change your thinking. Confucianism and Christianity were both revolutionary," he said. But he is cynical about demonstrations organised by social networks that quickly dissolve before they have a capacity to build anything lasting. "The protesters will probably finish up working for multinationals and dying of modern diseases. I hope that I am wrong about that."

39 Comments

39 Comments


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[-] 3 points by beautifulworld (23767) 9 years ago

"A revolution is when you change your thinking."

Riiiiight. Sweeeet.

[-] 3 points by johannus (386) from Newburgh, NY 9 years ago

Good to see this in full on a thread, I especially liked this excerpt from President Mujica in his defense of people considering him poor;

"I'm not the poorest president. The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live," he said. "My lifestyle is a consequence of my wounds. I'm the son of my history. There have been years when I would have been happy just to have a mattress."

Do you hear that Jamie?

[-] 1 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

the guy is the real deal - i especially liked the part about his robin hood days

[-] -2 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

One colossal disagreement with President Mujica. Those who need (or have) a lot to live aren't poor. They are evil.

[-] 3 points by Nevada1 (5843) 9 years ago

Everyone should see this.

[-] 3 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

imagine if we had leaders like that - i would run out to vote faster than than the factless one!

[-] 4 points by SerfingUSA (451) 9 years ago

OK, This President Mujica guy has demonstrated he's a vastly superior leader to any of our recent U.S. presidents.

But I bet Obama is still better than him at golf and basketball. Dubya Bush was great at clearing brush on his ranch. Remember? And I'm sure we don't know all the unbelievable things Clinton did in the Oral Office, I mean Oval Office. At least those are things as Americans we can still be proud of.

USA !!! USA !!! USA !!! Come on everybody ! USA !!! USA !!! USA !!!!!!

[-] 4 points by Shule (2638) 9 years ago

USA!, USA! USA!.. err I meant VISA, VISA, VISA, Come on everybody pull out your credit cards and buy an American Flag (made in China of course.)

[-] 2 points by Nevada1 (5843) 9 years ago

Agree.

[-] 2 points by turbocharger (1756) 9 years ago

Excellent post.

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

thank you

[-] 2 points by donOld (134) 9 years ago

A breath of fresh air... thanks Flip.

"We have abandoned religion and philosophy … What we have left is the automatisation of doing what the market tells us."

[-] 0 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

Hands down the most humble, logical and MORAL example set by any high level politician that I know of. Or any celebrity for that matter. If those in power and influence along with the masses would follow his lead and find the courage to rise above this 'gotta get rich' CRAP, then we could FINALLY begin to work toward world peace and prosperity. The benefit for humankind would be almost beyond measure.

By the way, I see the conservative posers have been marking down dozens of my older comments again in order to reduce my overall user rating. It's a given that it will continue. For that reason, it's a given that I will post the following link with each comment from now on.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

imagine having someone like this to vote for. ever wonder why we can't?

[-] 0 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

No I don't wonder. I stopped wondering about that over a decade ago. It's because of greed, the most intoxicating and corrupt influence in the history of mankind. It's because of false heroes like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Melinda Gates, Bono, Richard Branson, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres, Lebron James, Drew Barrymore, Gwen Stefani, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, RUSSELL BRAND and EVERY big name celebrity. It's because of EVERY high ranking politician of Western Society. It's because of the HORRIBLE example they all set. It's because of the VERY CONCEPT of extreme personal wealth. It's because very few people have the courage to acknowledge it for what it truly is. PURE EVIL.

By the way, I see the conservative posers have been marking down dozens of my older comments again in order to reduce my overall user rating. It's a given that it will continue. For that reason, it's a given that I will post the following link with each comment from now on.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

Not greed but power considerations. Do you understand the difference? Doubtful!!

[-] -1 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

Bullshit.

Part A.

I've noticed the ongoing campaign to excuse the richest 1% for their incredible greed and concentration of wealth. I've noticed the more recent effort to divert our attention instead, to a tiny minority of multi-billionaires. Finally, I've become aware of the ABSURD claim that the rich and corrupt are motivated by a lust for 'power', not money. This claim is often made in an attempt to vilify Democrats in particular. As if their ultimate goal is to 'control the masses'.

Below is a complete list of Federal politicians, judges, and staff members convicted of 'on the job' corruption going back over 100 years. As you can see, the vast majority have been inspired directly by a desire to get or stay rich. Of the examples that remain, a desire to get or stay in paid office is indicated more often than not. Lies have been told (often in relation to financial matters), evidence has been withheld (often in relation to financial matters), and a few motives remain unclear (some of which certainly pertain to financial matters) but none of the criminal acts listed below were inspired by anything remotely resembling a desire to 'control the masses'. Unless of course, you consider sexual harassment of two employees such an attempt.

The pattern of financially motivated corruption has applied to both major political parties going back over 100 years. It shows that Democrats and Republicans alike, are inspired almost exclusively by a desire to get rich. Not by a desire to 'control the masses'. Not by a lust for 'power'.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) pleaded guilty on February 20, 2013 to one count of wire and mail fraud in connection with his misuse of $750,000 of campaign funds.

Rick Renzi (R-AZ) on June 12, 2013 was found guilty of 17 of the 32 counts against him, including wire fraud, conspiracy, extortion, racketeering, money laundering and making false statements to insurance regulators.

Samuel B. Kent (R) The Federal District Judge of Galveston, Texas was sentenced on May 11, 2009, to 33 months in prison for having lied about sexually harassing two female employees.

Thomas Porteous (D) The Federal Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana was impeached, convicted and removed from office on December 8, 2010 on charges of bribery and lying to Congress.

William J. Jefferson (D-LA) in August 2005 the FBI seized $90,000 in cash from Jefferson's home freezer. He was convicted of 11 counts of bribery in 2009. Jefferson's Chief of Staff Brett Pfeffer, was also convicted of bribery.

Jack Abramoff CNMI scandal involves the efforts of Abramoff to influence Congressional action concerning U.S. immigration and minimum wage laws. Bob Ney (R-OH) pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements as a result of his receiving trips from Jack Abramoff in exchange for legislative favors.

Duke Cunningham (R-CA) pleaded guilty on November 28, 2005 to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion in what came to be called the Cunningham scandal.

Frank Ballance (D-NC) admitted to federal charges of money laundering and mail fraud in October 2005.

Jim Traficant (D-OH) found guilty on 10 felony counts of financial corruption.

Mel Reynolds (D-IL) was convicted in 1999 of 12 counts of bank fraud.

Walter R. Tucker III (D-CA) was convicted of extortion and tax evasion.

Wes Cooley (R-OR), Cooley was convicted of having lied on the 1994 voter information pamphlet about his service in the Army.

Austin Murphy (D-PA) convicted of one count of voter fraud for filling out absentee ballots for members of a nursing home.

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

This has nothing to do with what i said. No surprise. Are you simply stupid. Money and power. Two different subjects. Do you realize that??

[-] -3 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

No shit Sherlock. But greed (for money and material wealth you moron) is the single greatest force of government, business, and societal corruption. Not the lust for power. After all, you don't see any 'control the masses' lottery jackpots do you? No. People line up out the door for money. Not power. Power is just a side dish for the super rich once they get bored with having everything else they want.

God I'm so incredibly sick of you morons and cowards. You are not part of the solution. You are part of the problem.

Now mark mark mark you pathetic posers. Mark mark mark!

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

too bad but your little boy rant is off target. those who rule us go for power over money every time. through power you can get whatever you want no - you think putin want money and not power. you think slick willy wanted money not power - think again. are you capable of thought. now since you are sick of us why not just go away - why not just call in to talk shows and predict the next snowstorm or financial crisis - to the day - what a dweeb - do you think that is how it is spelled?

[-] -2 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

Another one for the list. As usual it's about the money.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/22/michael-grimm-felony-_n_6368184.html

[-] 2 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

what could be worse than a dimwit - a repetitive dimwit - maybe.

[-] -3 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

Again, I just posted over 100 years of evidence to blow that 'power over money' crap out of the water.

Damn right I'm disgusted with the pathetic remnants of OWS. All but 3 or 4 of you. But the answer is no. I'm here to stay.

Gee what a shock. I lost another 50 points today.

Now mark mark mark you pathetic posers. Mark mark mark!

Update: Two markdowns within minutes of each other late at night. Yup. That's flip with his multiple IDs.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

[-] 3 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

points - what a sad sack you are. if i were nice i would realize that and leave you alone. but then i am not nice and stupidity pisses me off. not sure why - maybe you know since you are really smart. now i am not so smart so can you explain wtf is with mark mark mark?? now to your point - it is so obvious but you apparently need it pointed out. once you have power you can get what you want - wealth or whatever. many instances throughout modern history where this has happened. when the military coup comes if you have lots of money and i am the top general - you better look out. now fidel and hugo did not want personal wealth - they wanted power to change the world and they did it - no?

[-] -2 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

You know damn well it's not about the points. It's about your motive for cutting them. You're a fiscal conservative posing as a disgruntled liberal in order to steer the influence of OWS. Because you're a fiscal conservative, it's ultimately about the money.

If the motive for gaining power is to gain personal wealth, then it's not about the power to begin with. If the motive is something other than personal wealth, then it is soon corrupted by a desire for personal wealth. The exceptions are incredibly few and far between. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2637927/Castro-commie-hypocrite-lives-like-billionaire-Hes-posed-man-people-But-new-book-reveals-Cubas-leader-led-life-pampered-hedonism-fortune-big-Queens.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/9993238/Venezuela-the-wealth-of-Chavez-family-exposed.html

http://visualeconomics.creditloan.com/the-wealth-of-world-leaders/

Like I said, the very concept of extreme personal wealth is the most intoxicating and corrupt influence in the history of mankind.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

Next.

[-] 3 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

figures you would believe the capitalist propaganda about fidel - dimwit. ask the angolans what they think of him - do you understand the reference - dimwit. ask the many countries that he has sent doctors to - what a load of crap. next you will be sending me the forbes nonsense about his wealth. keep up your childish rants that cow is the only issue. i will try to leave you alone - i would hate to be responsible for sending you over the edge - you are clearly unbalanced. and what exactly is mark mark mark

[-] -3 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

I forgot to mention your hero Russell Brand.

$20,000,000 and counting.

Next.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

[-] 5 points by lugano (1221) 9 years ago

When you make countless derogatory and angry comments about Russel Brand, and produce oodles of threads on some sort of conspiracy going on with ebola, that seems kooky to me.

[-] -3 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

In other words, you would like the point regarding Russell Brand explained.

No problem.

Jesus God damn fucking Christ you morons. What the hell will it take to get through to you? Can't you understand even the most basic principles of economics or human nature? What the hell do you think led to so much government, business, and societal corruption to begin with?

How in the name of all that is logical within the universe do any of you Russell Brand promoting MORONS hope to make even the slightest difference for the lower majority, the people you CLAIM to care about without addressing the OBSCENE and GROWING share of private wealth held by the INDIVIDUALS who make up the 1%?

How in the name of all that is logical within the universe do any of you Russell Brand promoting MORONS hope to make even the slightest difference for the lower majority, the people you CLAIM to care about without addressing their own IDIOTIC spending habits which INCLUDE handing over HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of DOLLARS and POUNDS to celebrity pigs?

Where in the holy fuck do all of you Russell Brand promoting MORONS think the 'corporations' got most of their money to begin with? Have any of you Russell Brand promoting MORONS even bothered to do any research into his HYPOCRITE PIG background?

Do any of you Russell Brand promoting MORONS have any idea how many powerful, corrupt, and GOVERNMENT INFLUENCING corporations he has VOLUNTARILY supported using the MILLIONS you and the rest of his IDIOT FANS have given him? Don't any of you Russell Brand promoting MORONS realize that by praising him, you actually SAVE him and his CORPORATE GOVERNMENT INFLUENCING PRODUCT RETAILERS MILLIONS over the cost of traditional advertising thereby contributing to the 'paradigm' that Russell Brand has the GALL to run his multi-deca-millionaire hypocrite pig mouth about?

What in the name of all that is logical within the universe do any of you Russell Brand promoting MORONS hope to accomplish by taking his advice and allowing CONSERVATIVE VOTERS run of the political board from now on?

How in the name of all that is logical within the universe do any of you Russell Brand promoting MORONS hope to reform ANYTHING within the corrupt 'system' without addressing the particular form of evil at the very heart of government corruption?

THE VERY CONCEPT OF EXTREME PERSONAL WEALTH.

Wealth concentrating and poverty causing 1% pig entry level net worth. Approximately $9 million.

Wealth concentrating and poverty causing 1% pig average net worth. Approximately $16 million.

WEALTH CONCENTRATING AND POVERTY CAUSING RUSSELL BRAND PIG CURRENT NET WORTH. $20 MILLION AND COUNTING THANKS TO ALL OF YOU AND THE REST OF HIS IDIOT FANS.

CH'CHING!

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

[-] 3 points by lugano (1221) 9 years ago

You just wrote another "angry and derogatory" bullshit rant, and you want me to expalin to you why I think your posts are kooky? Read it again, you'll see - The Defense Rests!!

[-] -3 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

Ok slick. We'll discuss them one at a time.

1% wealth concentrating hypocrite bank basher Russell Brand has financed his 'for profit' production company by helping bankers avoid paying taxes on their returns.

In other words, it's ok to be a banker as long as you help Russell Brand get richer.

Russell Brand is worth $20,000,000 and counting. Now, he has his own 'for profit' production company, a 'for profit' tax avoiding affiliation with the banking industry and a 'for profit' documentary about himself in the works.

Care to explain this or will you simply mark down my comment hoping to prevent others from taking it seriously?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11304792/Russell-Brand-film-on-RBS-bankers-funded-by-City-investors-including-former-RBS-banker.html

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

[-] 3 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

the usual non answer - now mark mark mark

[-] 1 points by MattHolck0 (3867) 9 years ago

is russell brand a candy bar ?

[-] 2 points by lugano (1221) 9 years ago

I don't understand you. For days and days you put up these long rants about ebola and Russell Brand, then you make comments that make little sense to me. And then you accuse anyone who disagrees with you as being a conservative.

Being a liberal is not the same as being doltish, and vice versa, making sense is not a conservative attribute, in fact just the opposite to me. It all seems like a waste of time, and even diversionary. Don't you agree?

[-] 3 points by flip (7101) 9 years ago

well i for one agree - well said. are you from lago di lugano?

[+] -4 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

What points don't make sense to you? Please name three points that you want explained.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/ows-readers-beware-our-site-has-been-taken-over-by/

[-] -2 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

Part B.

House banking scandal: The House of Representatives Bank found that 450 members had overdrawn their checking accounts, but not been penalized. Six were convicted of charges, most only tangentially related to the House Bank itself. Twenty two more of the most prolific over-drafters were singled out by the House Ethics Committee.

Buz Lukens (R-Ohio) convicted of bribery and conspiracy.

Carl C. Perkins (D-Kentucky) pleaded guilty to a check kiting scheme involving several financial institutions (including the House Bank).

Carroll Hubbard (D-Kentucky) convicted of illegally funneling money to his wife's 1992 campaign to succeed him in congress.

Mary Rose Oakar (D-Ohio) pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor campaign finance charge not related to the House Bank.

Walter Fauntroy (D-District of Columbia) convicted of filing false disclosure forms in order to hide unauthorized income.

Congressional Post Office scandal (1991--1995), A conspiracy to embezzle House Post Office money through stamps and postal vouchers to congressmen: Dan Rostenkowski (D-IL) Rostenkowski was convicted.

Joe Kolter (D-Pennsylvania) Convicted of one count of conspiracy.

Jay Kim (R-CA) accepted $250,000 in illegal 1992 campaign contributions.

Catalina Vasquez Villalpando, (R) Treasurer of the United States. Convicted of obstruction of justice and tax evasion.

Nicholas Mavroules (D-Massachusetts) convicted of extortion, accepting illegal gifts and failing to report them on congressional disclosure and income tax forms.

Albert Bustamante (D-Texas) convicted of accepting bribes.

David Durenberger Senator (R-Minnesota) denounced by Senate for unethical financial transactions and then disbarred. Convicted of misuse of public funds.

Robert Frederick Collins (D) Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Convicted of Bribery.

Walter Nixon (D) US Judge (Mississippi) (appointed by Lyndon Johnson in 1968) Was impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate for perjury.

Housing and Urban Development Scandal A controversy concerning bribery by selected contractors for low income housing projects.

James G. Watt (R) United States Secretary of the Interior, 1981--1983, convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice.

Deborah Gore Dean, (R) Executive Assistant to (Samuel Pierce, Secretary of HUD 1981--1987, and not charged). Dean was convicted of 12 counts of perjury, conspiracy, bribery.

Phillip D. Winn (R) Assistant Secretary of HUD, 1981--1982, pleaded guilty to bribery in 1994.

Thomas Demery, (R) Assistant Secretary of HUD, convicted of bribery and obstruction.

Joseph A. Strauss, (R) Special Assistant to the Secretary of HUD, convicted for accepting payments to favor Puerto Rican land developers in receiving HUD funding.

Wedtech scandal Wedtech Corporation convicted of bribery for Defense Department contracts.

Mario Biaggi (D-New York), convicted of accepting bribes.

Robert Garcia (D-New York), convicted of accepting bribes.

Iran-Contra Affair (1985--1986); A secret sale of arms to Iran, to secure the release of hostages and allow U.S. intelligence agencies to fund the Nicaraguan Contras, in violation of the Boland Amendment.

Caspar Weinberger (R) United States Secretary of Defense, was indicted on two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice on June 16, 1992.

Robert C. McFarlane (R) National Security Adviser, convicted of withholding evidence.

John Poindexter (R) National Security Advisor, was convicted on April 7, 1990 for his role in the Iran-Contra Affair.

Oliver North (R) Member of the National Security Council, was fired by President Reagan on the same day Poindexter resigned. North was found guilty of perjury and conspiracy.

Elliott Abrams (R) Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, convicted of withholding evidence.

Michael Deaver (R) White House Deputy Chief of Staff to Ronald Reagan 1981--85, convicted of perjury related to lobbying activities.

Sewergate A scandal in which funds from the EPA were selectively used for projects which would aid politicians friendly to the Reagan administration.

Rita Lavelle (R), assistant EPA Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency misused 'superfund' monies and was convicted of perjury.

Donald E. "Buz" Lukens (R-Ohio), Convicted of two counts of bribery and conspiracy.

Abscam FBI sting involving fake 'Arabs' trying to bribe 31 congressmen. The following Congressmen were convicted:

Harrison A. Williams Senator (D-New Jersey), Convicted on 9 counts of bribery and conspiracy.

John Jenrette Representative (D-South Carolina) Convicted of bribery and conspiracy.

Richard Kelly (R-Florida) Accepted $25K and then claimed he was conducting his own investigation into corruption. Convicted.

Raymond Lederer (D-Pennsylvania), "I can give you me" he said after accepting $50K. Convicted.

Michael Myers (D-Pennsylvania) Accepted $50K saying, "...money talks and bullshit walks." Convicted.

Frank Thompson (D-New Jersey), convicted of bribery.

John M. Murphy (D-New York), convicted of bribery.

Mario Biaggi (D-New York), Convicted of obstruction of justice and accepting illegal gratuities for his role in the Wedtech scandal, Just before expulsion from the House, he resigned. The next year he was convicted of another 15 counts of obstruction and bribery.

Pat Swindall (R-Georgia) convicted of 6 counts of perjury.

George V. Hansen (R-Idaho) censured for failing to file out disclosure forms.

Frederick W. Richmond (D-New York),Convicted of tax evasion.

Dan Flood (D-Pennsylvania) censured for bribery. Convicted.

Joshua Eilberg (D-Pennsylvania), convicted of conflict-of-interest charges.

Alcee Hastings (D-Florida), Federal District court judge impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate of soliciting a bribe.

Harry Claiborne (D-Nebraska), Federal District court Judge impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate on two counts of tax evasion.

Fred Richmond (D-New York) -- Convicted of tax fraud.

Charles Diggs (D-Michigan), convicted on 29 charges of mail fraud and filing false payroll forms which formed a kickback scheme with his staff.

Frank M. Clark (D-Pennsylvania), convicted of mail fraud and tax evasion on June 12, 1979.

Koreagate scandal involving alleged bribery of more than 30 members of Congress by the South Korean government represented by Tongsun Park.

Richard Tonry (D-Louisiana), convicted of receiving illegal campaign contributions.

James F. Hastings (R-New York), convicted of kickbacks and mail fraud, he also took money from his employees for personal use.

John V. Dowdy (D-Texas), Allegedly tried to stop a federal investigation of a construction firm. Convicted of perjury.

Bertram Podell (D-New York), convicted of conspiracy and conflict of interest.

Frank Brasco (D-New York) Sentenced to three months in jail and fined $10,000 for conspiracy to accept bribes from a reputed Mafia figure who sought truck leasing contracts from the Post Office and loans to buy trucks.

Richard T. Hanna (D-CA), convicted in an influence-buying scandal in 1974.

Watergate (1972--1973) Republican 'bugging' of the Democratic Party National Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel led to a burglary which was discovered. The cover up of the affair by President Richard Nixon (R) and his staff resulted in 69 government officials being charged and 48 pleading guilty, including 7 for actual burglary. Eventually, Nixon resigned his position.

John N. Mitchell (R) former Attorney General, convicted of perjury.

Frederick C. LaRue (R) Advisor to John Mitchell, convicted of obstruction of justice.

Richard Kleindienst (R) Attorney General, found guilty of "refusing to answer questions".

H. R. Haldeman (R) Chief of Staff for Nixon, convicted of perjury.

John Ehrlichman (R) Counsel to Nixon, convicted of perjury.

Egil Krogh (R) Aide to John Ehrlichman, convicted of perjury.

John W. Dean III (R) Counsel to Nixon, convicted of obstruction of justice.

Dwight L. Chapin (R) Deputy Assistant to Nixon, convicted of perjury.

Charles W. Colson (R) Special Consul to Nixon, convicted of obstruction of justice.

Cornelius Gallagher (D-New Jersey) convicted of tax evasion.

J. Irving Whalley (R-Pennsylvania), convicted in 1973 for using mails to deposit staff salary kickbacks and threatening an employee to prevent her from giving information to the FBI.

Martin B. McKneally (R-New York), convicted in 1971 for failing to file income tax return.

New York US Representative James Fred Hastings (R-NY) was a delegate to the 1968 Republican National Convention and the 1972 Republican National Convention. He was elected to Congress in 1968 and served from January 3, 1969, until he resigned on January 20, 1976 after being convicted of kickbacks and mail fraud.

Daniel Brewster (D-Maryland) Senator convicted of accepting " an unlawful gratuity without corrupt intent ".

Frank W. Boykin Congressman (D-AL) was convicted of conspiracy and conflict of interest in July 1963.

Thomas F. Johnson (D-Maryland) was convicted of conspiracy and conflict of interest regarding the receipt of illegal gratuities.

Frank Boykin (D-Alabama) was convicted in a case involving a conflict of interest and conspiracy to defraud the government.

Thomas J. Lane (D-Massachusetts) convicted for evading taxes on his congressional income.

[-] -1 points by StillModestCapitalist (343) 9 years ago

Part C.

Ernest K. Bramblett (R-California), convicted of making false statements in connection with payroll padding and kickbacks from congressional employees.

Walter E. Brehm (R-Ohio) convicted of accepting contributions illegally from one of his employees.

J. Parnell Thomas (R-New Jersey): a member of the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), was convicted of salary fraud.

Andrew J. May (D-Kentucky) Convicted of accepting bribes in 1947 from a war munitions manufacturer.

James M. Curley (D-Massachusetts), convicted of fraud.

John H. Hoeppel (D-CA) convicted in 1936 of selling an appointment to the West Point Military Academy.

Harry E. Rowbottom, (R-IN) was convicted in Federal court of accepting bribes from persons who sought post office appointments.

George English (D) U.S. District Judge of Illinois, impeached for taking an interest-free loan from a bank of which he was director.

The Harding administration was marred by scandals stemming from his appointment of men in his administration whom he had known in Ohio. They came to be known as the Ohio Gang. They include;

Albert Fall (R) Secretary of the Interior who was bribed by Harry F. Sinclair for control of the Teapot Dome federal oil reserves in Wyoming.

Charles R. Forbes (R) appointed by Harding as the first director of the new Bureau of Veterans Affairs. After constructing and modernizing VA hospitals, he was convicted of bribery and corruption.

Thomas W. Miller (R), Head of the Office of Alien Property: convicted of fraud by selling valuable German patents seized after World War I for far below market price as well as bribery.

There you go. Over 100 years worth of convictions. The vast majority of which indicate that corrupt politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, are inspired almost exclusively by a desire to get rich. Rarely by anything but. Almost never by anything remotely resembling a desire to 'control the masses' or by a lust for 'power'.

Of course, the ongoing campaign to divert our attention from the evil of wealth concentration to the lust for power will continue. Not that I deny the corrupt influence of power or the harm that has been done by those who wield too much. But the single greatest force of government, business, and societal corruption is the desire for extreme personal wealth. Not the lust for 'power'. Any claim to the contrary is absurd.

Next.

[-] 1 points by MattHolck0 (3867) 9 years ago

should rate by post count