In case you haven't heard the news, Florida Republican and U.S. Representative Trey Radel has been charged with a misdemeanor possession of cocaine in which he will be facing a six month prison sentence and/or a $1,000 fine. The "or" part of his sentence is what strikes me as odd as a $1,000 fine is mere chunk change to a member of Congress, and as a Representative he should be held to a higher standard including more severe punishment. However it seems to be the case that in several instances, Government officials are often given a slap on the wrist instead of the punishment they truly deserve. It is an embarrassment to this country that citizens allow politicians to get off with minimal consequences for their actions. It is even more embarrassing that such officials are even elected in the first place. Our politicians are busy pointing fingers, fighting like idiots, and snorting cocaine rather than working together to create effective legislation necessary to run the country. Thats just not the kind of government any citizen should want! I urge those voters out there to start doing more extensive research on political candidates, and vote for Representatives based on merit, not name recognition.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/19/congressman-charged-with-cocaine-possession/
I agree that it is a citizen's duty to investigate who they vote for in an election. Many times, people vote according to party, Nationality, color,religious views, or one specific issue they support.
ReplyDeleteI think people should look at the full picture based on facts and accomplishments, not just the words. I think government elected officials should be held to a high standard, no excuses. Also,
the punishment for a Government representative or senator should be harsh so it will deter other such crimes.
When I first saw this article I couldn't help but laugh as it seems to define the undeniable corruption that becomes more and more clear everyday. If guys like this continue to make their lousy intentions known, who in their right mind will respect these once honorable positions? I agree with you when you say that this should be a wakeup call for voters. In order to have a better working system it would be in our interest to evaluate candidates important qualities such as merit instead of what name they know. And when it comes to the punishment that Radel will face? I agree with Natalie. We need to enforce the law, and make it clear that this behavior is no longer acceptable to both the general public and other politicians.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't we simply vote for representatives based on how well they do their jobs? Our congress is horribly nonproductive lately and it shows in their approval ratings. What we need is representatives who can legislate and get work done. If I based my decision for who I wanted in congress off of how appropriate they keep their personal lives then I'd find vote for nun. But that's not the case and I don't understand why Americans focus so much effort on what politicians do in the time they get off. Is it really hurting America when a politician has an affair or does drugs? As long as they keep these activities from interfering with their work I really don't see the problem. Last time I checked, most of our political problems come from stubborn bipartisanship and a congress that's unwilling to work together. I don't think the government has ever been shut down because of a congressman snorting cocaine. It's our job to elect representatives based on their ability to legislate.
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