Monday, February 2

word seminars for politicians

I'd like to host a seminar for our politicians on the meaning of words. In particular, these two words...."mistake" and "choice". And here's why.
In the past few weeks, several politicians have been put forth for key positions in our government. Timothy Geithner as head of the IRS (that would be tax collector, no?) and Tom Daschle for reforming our healthcare system, including medicaid. Apparently they both think they've made terrible, innocent "mistakes" in not paying their taxes. Even though in Timothy Geithner's case the IMF ( International Monetary Fund) stapled his tax check to a form, which he then signed 4 times a year for 4 years stating he understood the checks were to be used for paying his taxes. But, he never did pay them.
In Mr. Daschle's case, he thought his friend "gifted" him a car and driver and didn't know he was required to pay taxes ( over $97,000) on them. And then, for the icing on the cake, this week he paid another $6,000 to Medicaid to cover the back taxes on that for the driver, as he hadn't understood he was supposed to pay that either.

These are the only two men in America for these positions?!
Here's my problem with these innocent "mistakes". My children understand the difference between a mistake and a choice. These men made choices, not mistakes. Nothing was innocent about these choices. They thought (think) they're above the law. The sad part is Timothy Geithner has already been shown he is above the law, as he's been appointed into the desired position.
Will Tom Daschle also slide into position?

I cringe each time I hear a politician caught in a compromising position say it was a mistake. A mistake is when a nickle falls into the quarter slot in my cash register. The next time I hand out change and give someone that nickle instead of a quarter for change and they point it out, I apologise and give them the quarter and we move on. I didn't choose to pay them a nickle instead of a quarter, I did it by mistake. It would be innocent and I'd rectify the situation.
Elliot Spitzer getting caught with a hooker in a hotel room far from home where his wife and daughters are? That is NOT a mistake. That is a choice! A bad one!

Please, can we stop allowing these people to get away with bad choices under the guise of the word "mistake"?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent! I've noticed the word "mistake" has been floating around in my house in place of "sin". ie:"We all make mistakes".

Have you written into the Cambridge Daily with this commentary-maybe World Magazine, Newsweek?

Andy and Nancy said...

Very well said!!!!!

kibbe said...

Yeah Riverrat, Can you imagine Newsweek publishing something logical about the liberals!?

Sue said...

I have been wanting to write a very similar blog or letter to the editor about the exact same thing! It annoys me so much!! If we made such 'mistakes" we would be in jail. And if a conservative made such mistakes, he would be villified and we would have to hear about it for years. Thanks for such a great post!