"... the GOP, with its Tea Party faction, is leading the way in ruthless, uncaring, self-centered politics."

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Political mean-spiritedness directed at citizens
By Milton Hinton (South Jersey Times), December 1, 2013

Many are familiar with the saying that politics is a dirty business.

But so many want to desperately hold on to the notion that the majority of political endeavors are properly conducted, and most politicians at least try to do the right thing.

In light of recent events this mindset has been weakened, further eroding people’s confidence that elected officials are truly operating in their best interest.

In order for the system to function as designed, those running for, as well as those holding, elected office must conduct the business of the people in a moral and ethical manner.

There is significant evidence, in addition to numerous scandals, that some elected to office are prepared to do anything to hold onto power, while others use their political power for personal gain and benefit.

Most disheartening is the mean-spirited element that has made its way into the political arena. I have never seen such meanness and disdain directed at the very people whom government is supposed to serve.

In today’s political climate, there is absolutely no caring or concern for those with mental illness, no concern for those who are ill and have no health care, and no compassion for those trapped in the vice grip of poverty.

The middle class is viewed as a primary source of cheap labor to toil all their lives to make others wealthy. How can some people elected to powerful political offices that control or influence housing, health care, jobs, and education budgets stand by and allow kids to complete 12 years of school and still be unprepared to compete in the labor market? Or allow seniors to succumb to disease, go without heat in the winter, or survive on a poor diet that leads to malnourishment? 

Does no one care that this Congress has gutted the college student loan programs to the point that middle-class kids desiring higher education cannot qualify for loans, or that those who are able to borrow money will start their work careers behind decades of debt?

I have to take it a step further and point out that the Democratic Party has certainly had its fair share of political scandals, but the GOP, with its Tea Party faction, is leading the way in ruthless, uncaring, self-centered politics.

It has become a party of a chosen few who care only about money, with much of it going into their pockets. Republicans in Congress recently approved a bill slashing the budget for food stamps beginning in 2014 which will result in 4 million additional citizens being food challenged, and Congress knows that — due to their actions — more people will suffer.

They do not care. This will happen at a time when there are just not enough jobs for those willing and able to work. I keep repeating what Bob Marley wrote, “a hungry mob is an angry mob,” and we will get to the point where people are not going to accept being hungry any longer.

Although I disagree with Representative Frank LoBiondo on many issues, he did have the courage to stand up for the poor people in the 2nd District and vote against this bill. The man did take a step back away from his party and show some compassion to those just trying to survive.

It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that Congressman John Runyun, R-3rd District, was not willing to give the same consideration to the working poor and children in his own district, as he, and Reps. Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist) and Leonard Lance (R-7th Dist) voted to allow people to be hungry and, I suppose, to “pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.”

On the local level, there certainly is evidence that the quest to maintain power can impede an individual’s grasp on reality, and their ability to discern right from wrong. I do not know former Woodbury Mayor Harry “Ron” Riskie, but in this analysis I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, as there is no verification that he acted improperly.

So I will try to desperately believe the former mayor did not know that his two sons, who reside in Blackwood, N.J., and Geneva, N.Y., cast absentee ballots for their father using his local address. Another improper ballot reportedly came from a woman in Wimauma, Fla., who also used her parents’ Woodbury address.

This certainly sounds to me like voter fraud, but no one has used that term as of yet. Even if one holds on to the belief that the former mayor was not aware of the shenanigans going on, his two sons and Florida friend had to know that two of them were not residents of the state, and another resided in another county.

Thus, it was wrong to use a phony local address in order to vote for the former mayor. Only after a re-count did Harry Riskie lose the council race to incumbent Danielle Carter, 315 votes to 314. One vote made a big difference.

The irony of this is so very apparent. Over the last several election cycles, GOP elected officials in 30 states have passed some type of voter identification laws in an attempt to curb the tide of minorities and seniors voting Democrat. Yet in this case, it is members of the GOP caught up in some “shenanigans” at the polls in an effort to maintain power.

I hope all enjoyed a safe and happy holiday, and I hope we will turn our compassion toward those who have been let down, once again, by so many mean-spirited members of Congress who appear very willing to withhold food assistance from other Americans in need.

Disgraceful.
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