LOOKING FOR CORRUPTION?

WHY LOOK AT CORRUPTION IN FLINT MICHIGAN?

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GOOD MORNING FLINT! 9/15/09
By Terry Bankert
http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/
Above Longer article , mostly research so you can draw your own conclusions, with citations, short summery below at http://flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=36113#36113
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REFLECTIONS: Per diem abuse may seem like small potatoes, but it offers a way to look at the concept of corruption. Palin makes the news again. Mabey there are things about her experience that can guide us through Flint’s- First just being two faced like her is not political corruption. Political corruption is the use of governmental powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. An illegal act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is directly related to their official duties. All forms of government are susceptible to political corruption. Forms of corruption vary, but include cronyism, nepotism, patronage, and embezzlement. Tolerance of political corruption allows “rule by thieves”.Corruption undermines democracy.Senator McCain said that he chose Governor Palin to be his running mate because she’s going to change Washington D.C. the same way that she, supposedly, brought change to the governor’s mansion in Alaska. She brought political corruption to the Governors Mansion. She has spent -- or she has collected from the people of Alaska , improperly, nearly $17,000 in per diem , untaxed, in the 19 months that she was been in office, which indicates that she is out of her office more than she’s in her office. Her staff has said she performs most of her work from the Anchorage office near her home and charged the state for sleeping in her own home. If it is corruption compared to the allegations of the mayor and community members in Flint Mi USA,Palins corruption is small potatoes. We must have a whole field.[trb]
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Our Mayor in Flint MI USA has announced he is spending millions of his own money to fight corruption, great. Here I am reflecting what political corruption is and why it is important to stand up against it as a citizen. Per diem abuse may seem like small potatoes, but it offers a way to look at the concept of corruption.[trb] I simply inquired of my friend google about political corruption. You see in Flint we have a mayor who has started a committee to stop corruption in Flint. Ironically there are a few in Flint that argue he is its source. So I though I would inquire what political corruption is then seek examples, Palin makes the news again. Mabey there are things about her experience that can guide us through Flint’s[trb]

YOU ARE NOT POLITICALLY CORRUPT FOR BEING TWO FACED.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin charged taxpayers a per diem for her meals and incidental expenses as governor but was a vocal critic of a similar perk for state legislators.[6]

ONLINE DEFINITION OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION

Political corruption is the use of governmental powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by private persons or corporations not directly involved with the government.[1]

OFFICIAL DUTIES AND ILLEGAL ACT EQUATE POLITICAL CORRUPTION

An illegal act by an officeholder constitutes political corruption only if the act is directly related to their official duties.[1] All forms of government are susceptible to political corruption. Forms of corruption vary, but include bribery, extortion, cronyism, nepotism, patronage, graft, and embezzlement. While corruption may facilitate criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and trafficking, it is not restricted to these organized crime activities.[1]

IN SOME LOCALS CORRUPTION IS THE PRICE OF DOING BUSINESS

In some nations, corruption is so common that it is expected when ordinary businesses or citizens interact with government officials. The end point of political corruption is a kleptocracy, literally "rule by thieves".[1]

CORRUPTION UNDERMINES DEMOCRACY

Corruption poses a serious development challenge. In the political realm, it undermines democracy and good governance by flouting or even subverting formal processes. Corruption in elections and in legislative bodies reduces accountability and distorts representation in policymaking; corruption in the judiciary compromises the rule of law; and corruption in public administration results in the unfair provision of services. More generally, corruption erodes the institutional capacity of government as procedures are disregarded, resources are siphoned off, and public offices are bought and sold. At the same time, corruption undermines the legitimacy of government and such democratic values as trust and tolerance.[1]

THE FIRST ARTICLE , WHEN POLITICAL CORRUPTION WAS GOOGLED, INVOLVED ALASKAN GOVERNOR PALIN

Senator McCain said that he chose Governor Palin to be his running mate because she’s going to change Washington D.C. the same way that she, supposedly, brought change to the governor’s mansion in Alaska.

WHAT CHANGES HAS PALIN BROUGHT AND WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO WITH CORRUPTION?

There are several examples of how that isn’t, exactly, the case. Her record does not stand up to scrutiny. Governor Palin billed the people of Alaska for 312 nights that she actually spent at home, in her own house, in her own bed.[1]


MISUSE OF EXPENSE ACCOUNTS AS POLITICAL CORRUPTION

These per diems are intended to compensate state employees to cover for travel costs when they are traveling on official state business.[2, comment by proudalaskan]

ALASKA IS A BIG STATE ,IS IT POLITICAL CORRUPTION TO SLEEP AT HOME AND CHARGE THE STATE FOR IT?

Governor Palin got paid to sleep at home. She also got paid to attend the Great Alaska Shootout, which is a Thanksgiving Day basketball tournament, here in Anchorage, that’s very popular. In all, according to the -- the Post, that we’ve seen, she has spent -- or she has collected from the people of Alaska nearly $17,000 in per diem in the 19 months that she was been in office, which indicates that she is out of her office more than she’s in her office.[2, comment by proudalaskan] At issue is the location of the governor's "tax home," which the Internal Revenue Service defines as the location where most of the individual's business is performed. Palin stayed in her Wasilla home 312 nights or 54 percent of the time period when she claimed the per diem, from Dec. 4, 2006, until June 30, 2008. She drove 45 miles to a state office building in Anchorage to conduct business. Her staff has said she performs most of her work from the Anchorage office. [3]

That would appear to make Wasilla the governor's "tax home," which would mean that under IRS regulations, any per diem she received for staying in that home is considered taxable. [3] But Garnero said the state considers Juneau to be the governor's "duty station" or tax home, which would make her eligible for per diem payments for time spent away from that place, even if it were in the governor's Wasilla residence. [3]

The $60-a-day allowance is available for state employees when traveling on official state business to cover meals and other expenses. Her salary is $125,000 a year. [3] Since Gov. Sarah Palin took office nearly two years ago, the state of Alaska has routinely bought commercial airline tickets for her daughters when they travel with her, a practice that raises questions about the governor’s claim to being a fiscal conservative.[7] Travel records from the governor’s office show that the state has spent at least $31,800 on dozens of airline tickets for the family, and more for meals and hotels.[7]

WE FIGHT POLITICAL CORRUPTION BY TRANSPARENCY. RELEASE OF PERSONAL TAX RETURNS IS ONE SUCH TRANSPARENCY

The important question today, I guess, would be -- because Senator Biden released his tax return -- would be for Governor Palin to release her tax returns -- federal tax returns -- to show whether or not she actually paid federal income tax on those reimbursements, for when she was living in her Wasilla home.[2, comment by proudalaskan] I am probably more involved, and pay attention more, to what’s going on in the state than a lot of residents. And I was unaware that she was not in Juneau, doing her job, as much as -- as this report seems to indicate. When she said -- made the announcement that she wasn’t going to stay in the mansion in Juneau, and she was going to -- because she “didn’t need this fancy house,” and she “didn’t need the cook,” and she “didn’t need the housekeeper,” and her home was in Wasilla, so she was only going to be in Juneau when she had to be in Juneau -- that rang pretty true to everybody.[2, comment by proudalaskan] Another background point involves the state capital, Juneau, which cannot be reached by road. Imagine trying to reach Hartford without using a road or bridge.

Those heading for Juneau by boat must deal with the ferocious Gulf of Alaska or the cloudy ferry trip along the Inland Passage. Those who fly must thread the needle between ice-covered mountains, bank hard above a fjord (usually in foggy drizzle), and land at sea level in a place where the tide averages over 15 feet. Juneau is a nice city to live in and to disembark at on a cruise, but it's a great challenge for business, coming and going.[4] We thought, “Well, that’s really great. You know, here’s this person who’s not, you know, feeling like she gets to -- to live in the castle on the hill. And she was going to be staying at her home in Wasilla,” and, “How noble is that?”[2, comment by proudalaskan]

STAYING AT HOME GREAT POLICY EXECUTED IN A SELF SERVING MANNER

But if she is billing the state to stay at her home in Wasilla, that’s pretty shocking to me, as a resident of the State of Alaska. So I think that this is -- it just raises one problem with the transparency and dishonest government that we have seen in Washington, D.C. And I don’t’ think it’s indicative of her bringing any kind of change to that.[2, comment by proudalaskan]

MIS USE OF PER DIEM THAN IS A LEGITIMATE EXAMPLE OF POLITICAL
CORRUPTION.

The practice of billing for staying at home seems to be unusual. Many officials said it would not be allowed in their states, including California, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, as well as other jurisdictions. On the federal level, officials said members of Congress do not get per diem allowances for routine home visits.[8]

POLITICAL CORRUPTION THEN COULD BE PALINS MIS USE OF PER DIEMS. A SECOND PROBLEM MAY BE NOT CLAIMING THE PER DIEMS ON HER INCOME TAXES

The misuse of per diems pales beside other acts of political corruption. But it’s a start. If this label applies to her where else should the label be applied in Flint MI USA? How to we stop corruption. Demand transparency and accountablity in the actions of the Leaders of Flint MI USA. Defend democracy by doing so.[trb]

Posted here by Terry Bankert 9/15/08
http://attorneybankert.com/
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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption
[2] http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/letters/stories/satletters3_0913edi.6e18b549.html [3] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/12/AR2008091203132.html?hpid=topnews
[4] http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-thorson0911.artsep11,0,1586992.column
[5] http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/10/palin_questioned_legislators_p.html
[6] http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/09/10/palin_questioned_legislators_p.html
[7] http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1118181&srvc=2008campaign&position=10
[8] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/us/politics/10billing.html?em

92792/18010

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Palin-lite

Palin would support war with Russia
[3]
Good Morning Flint, 9/12/08
by Terry Bankert
Full Article at http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/2008/09/palin-lite.html, summary at
Flint Talk.com
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Palin lite showed hersel in the Gibson interview. Palin will readily declare war on Russia, commit American troops and American deaths. Palin supported Obamas position in Afgan incursions, discounted scientific knowledge of mans role in global warming. One several points she contradicted McCain and demonstrated she did not know what the Bush doctrine is. Joe Biden will have her for lunch.
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Palin - who has spoken in her church about U.S. troops being "on a task that is from God," was asked if she believed the United States is fighting a "holy war."[3] The republican spin is that she was quoting Licoln.[trb]
Harold Holzer, a prominent Lincoln scholar and author of multiple Lincoln biographies, said last night that Palin's original comment that US troops are on a task from God does not follow Lincoln's quote.[4]
"I think there is no computing the precise Lincoln quote with her own quote," Holzer said. "Lincoln sought guidance from God, he didn't tell people that God was guiding him. It is just different."[4]

PALIN EMERGES FROM MEDIA BLACKOUT AND MELTS IN THE SUN OF CHARLIE GIBSON
In her first televised interview since being named to the GOP ticket, Sarah Palin says she's ready to be president if called upon. However, she sidestepped questions on whether she had the national security credentials needed to be commander in chief.[1]
PALIN INEXPIERENCED ENOUGH TO STUMBLE INTO WORLD WAR III
Republican presidential candidate John McCain has defended his running mate's qualifications, citing her command of the Alaska National Guard and Alaska's proximity to Russia.[1]
PALIN GET CHECKED BY GIBSON
In the interview broadcast Thursday, Palin sought to defend her qualifications to assume one of the most powerful jobs in the world. But she struggled with foreign policy, unable to describe President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes against threatening nations and acknowledging she's never met a foreign head of state.[1]
IF I CAN SEE IT I CAN UNDERSTAND IT
Pressed about what insights into recent Russian actions she gained by living in Alaska, Palin told Charles Gibson of ABC News, "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska."[1]
IN THE OCEAN OF INTERNATIONAL ISSUES PALIN IS FROM A SHALLOW BACKWATER POND
Palin, 44, has been Alaska's governor for less than two years and before that was a small-town mayor. She was McCain's surprise selection for the No. 2 slot on the ticket, raising questions about her readiness to serve in the White House, particularly during wartime.[1]
8 YEARS OF REPUBLICAN PRESIDENCY PUT GOVERNMENT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PEOPLE. PALIN IS A REPUBLICAN?
Asked whether those were sufficient credentials, Palin said: "It is about reform of government and it's about putting government back on the side of the people, and that has much to do with foreign policy and national security issues." She said she brings expertise in making the country energy independent as a former chairman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.[1]
SHE CANNOT EVEN NAME THE HEADS OF STATES OF THE LARGETS COUNTRIES?
Palin said other than a trip to visit soldiers in Kuwait and Germany last year, her only other foreign travel was to Mexico and Canada. She also said she had never met a head of state and added: "If you go back in history and if you ask that question of many vice presidents, they may have the same answer that I just gave you."[1]
PALIN CONNECTS IRAQ AND SEPTEMBER 11, MCCAIN DOES NOT

The Washington Post reported that Palin told Iraq-bound soldiers yesterday that they would "defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans."[4]
The remark appeared at odds with President Bush's stance that there was no connection between Iraq and the Sept. 11 attacks.[4]
Palin-lite, inexpierenced and proud of it.[trb]

Foreign policy questions dominated the first of three interviews Palin was giving Gibson over two days.[1]
In the interview Thursday, Palin:
READY TO START WARS-PALIN
_Appeared unsure of the Bush doctrine — essentially that the United States must help spread democracy to stop terrorism and that the nation will act pre-emptively to stop potential foes.[1]
DOCTRINE, OH CHARLIE STOP THE INTELLECTUAL STUFF SAYS PALIN/LIGHT
Asked whether she agreed with that, Palin said: "In what respect, Charlie?" Gibson pressed her for an interpretation of it. She said: "His world view." That prompted Gibson to say "no, the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war" and describe it to her.[1]

And on the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, she appeared entirely unfamiliar with the Bush Doctrine, the central foreign policy tenet of the current administration, which asserts the right to wage preventive strikes in the aftermath of such terrorist attacks. [2]

But she seemed off-balance when asked about the Bush Doctrine - which includes preventive war, spreading democracy to eliminate terrorism and brandishing power to force other countries into line. [3]

After Gibson informed her of the doctrine's definition of "anticipatory self-defense" against any country that might attack the United States, she replied: "If there is legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us that a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country. In fact, the president has the obligation, the duty to defend."[4]
PALIN- LITE DID NOT EVEN KNOW RECENT HISTORY
"And we've got to keep an eye on Russia. For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country, unprovoked, is unacceptable," she told Gibson. Russia invaded Georgia after the ex-Soviet republic invaded the separatist region of South Ossetia. [3]
PALIN THINKS EXPIERENCED IS A BAD THING AND SHE IS COMMITTED TO NO HAVING ANY.
"But, Charlie, again, we've got to remember what the desire is in this nation at this time. It is for no more politics as usual, and somebody's big fat resume that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment, where, yes, they've had opportunities to meet heads of state." [3]


THOSE GOSH DARN ISLAMIC PEOPLE, I.E PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LOOK LIKE PALIN
"I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hell bent on destroying our nation," Palin said, though added "there have been mistakes made."[1]
DID NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION, JOE WILL HAVE HER FOR LUNCH
Pressed repeatedly on whether the United States could attack terrorist hideouts in Pakistan without the country's permission, she said: "If there is legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us that a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country. In fact, the president has the obligation, the duty to defend."[1]
PALIN, COMMITTED TO AMERICAN BEING A FOLLOWER INTERNATIONALLY
_Said nuclear weapons in Iran's hands are dangerous, and said "we've got to put the pressure on Iran." Asked three times what her position would be if Israel felt threatened enough to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, Palin repeatedly said the United States shouldn't "second guess" Israel's steps to secure itself.[1]
PALIN WILL DECLARE WAR ON RUSSIA , COMMITT TROOPS, AND AMERICAN DEATHS?
_Called for Georgia and the Ukraine to be included in NATO, a treaty that requires the U.S. to defend them militarily. She also said Russia's attack into Georgia last month was "unprovoked." Asked to clarify that she'd support going to war over Georgia, she said: "Perhaps so."[1]

The interviews, conducted in and around Fairbanks, Alaska, did not go without a hitch. Palin called the Russian incursion into Georgia last month "unprovoked," a view at odds with that of U.S. officials who have reviewed events leading up to the military action.[2]
PALIN SUPPORTS OBAMA POSITION ON AFGAN INCUSIONS

Gibson also pressed Palin three times to give a yes or no answer to the question of whether she believed that the United States has the right to launch crossborder attacks on Taliban and Al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan, a close ally of the United States, without the Pakistani government's permission. Earlier in the campaign McCain had ridiculed rival Barack Obama for saying that he would authorize such unilateral crossborder actions, emphasizing that cooperation with Pakistan is essential.[4]
Bush resolved this thorny and explosive issue, after months of heated internal debate, by secretly authorizing such crossborder actions this summer, according to a front page report in yesterday's New York Times. Palin, when pressed by Gibson, said no option should be taken off the table.[4]

PALIN DISCOUNTS SCIENCE, AGAIN, IN THE GLOBAL WARMING DEBATE
Later, in the second interview, Palin said she broke from McCain on climate change and oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. McCain has said humans have caused climate change and the federal government shouldn't permit drilling in the federally protected wildlife reserve.[1]
PALIN FLIP FLOPS IN CONFUSION ON GLOBAL WARMING
Palin, however, said: "I believe that man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming, climate change. ... Regardless though of the reason for climate change, whether it's entirely, wholly caused by man's activities or is part of the cyclical nature of our planet — the warming and the cooling trends — regardless of that, John McCain and I agree that we gotta do something about it."[1]
The Alaska governor also reversed her stand on the cause of climate change, telling ABC News that she believes "man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming." Less than a year ago, she said the opposite.[2]
PALIN CONTRADICT MCCAIN POLICY. WHO WILL RUN THE WHITE HOUSE?
On ANWR, she said: "We'll agree to disagree but I'm gonna keep pushing that and I think eventually we're all gonna come together on that one." [1]

Despite a stump speech that portrays herself and McCain as agents for change in Washington, Palin echoed familiar themes of the Bush administration, championing democracy as the antidote to terrorism and referring to Islamic extremism as "evil."[4]


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[1]
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g-mjfuE-Dz5hpM2uDBVt3Kw6le4AD935372OB
[2]
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-palin12-2008sep12,0,3693136.story
[3]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/12/MNSA12SBUQ.DTL
[4]
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/articles/2008/09/12/palin_says_she_is_ready_to_assume_presidency/
[5]
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/09/11/palin-the-rock-star-heads-home-to-alaska/
[trb]
Comments of terry Bankert to include cap headlines

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2008

2008 the year of “Lets vote for a President/or Vice President that looks like me?” 2008 has a Presidential campaign, campaigning to an electorate that feels life is too complicated the libraries are too full , lets forget about books. Except that one with politically selected chapters , written and rewritten over a thousand years by ancient scribes based on politics that long ago evaporated into the sand, a book of all answers re taught to us once a week by an institutional bureaucracy who’s goal is to empty our heads of independent thought and cash from our wallets. Sign me up. Both campaigns and most of the pundits are wrong, so far.2008 is about the future for our children, this country and planet. But then who asked me.

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