Four reasons to be frustrated with political leaders

Roger A. Jones, Las Vegas

Thursday, April 8, 2010 | 2:04 a.m.

Brian Greenspun’s Sunday column expressed a dichotomy of Easter’s message and the fear, frustration and anger expressed by the “Tea Partyers” and others. He focused on a seemingly recovering economy, concluding that the Tea Partyers fail to appreciate the positive signs.

I am not a Tea Partyer, but I am frustrated, angry and fearful. Why? Because so many public servants that Greenspun praises are less than honorable — fabricating or manipulating facts to support their positions, such as the professed savings in the health care bill.

If it provides coverage for millions of additional people, the costs will be exorbitant. Politicians insult my intelligence by trying to convince me otherwise. It would have been a more honest approach to state the beneficial goals of health care reform and provide the real costs. The ends never justify the means.

Second, members of Congress frequently serve their own interests. They take large campaign contributions from lobbyists, then vote not their conscience but for the lobbyists’ interests. Some are “on the take,” as evidenced by recent criminal convictions.

Third, politicians are often devious. The health care bill revealed closed-door meetings, buying votes in exchange for federal assistance or an executive order on abortion, and clearly a manipulation of voting on the measure. Where is the promised transparency?

Finally, more than a few politicians lack ethical principles, and are selfish and narcissistic. They espouse righteous family values while living amoral lives.

Certainly not all politicians are as I have outlined, but enough represent one or more of the above characteristics to make Americans distrustful. I’m willing to accept the truth, but all too often I’m not told the truth. Mr. Greenspun lauds, as I do, the thousands of employees who work in our government and try to do what is right. The political leadership of our government, however, does not fit in that same category.

The writer, a retired brigadier general, served in the United States Air Force as a judge advocate (attorney) for 29 years.