THE WEEKENDER: “Power Corrupts, and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”

The Strong Woman

By Claire Cooper Black

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I have mentioned in other columns I have written that I was a banker for 30 years in Dallas.  During those years, I had seen internal criminal activity that really disheartened me. I personally investigated three cases at two different institutions. Two under the instructions of management and the other because it was the right thing to do.

What is it with some people in power. Do they get power because they are corrupt? Or do they become corrupt after getting power?

While working for the RTC (Resolution Trust Corporation – who dissolved S&L’s during the 80’s and 90’s) we, at our Dallas S&L, coined a phrase about government agencies having had a “logic-ectomy.” All logic removed from their thought process.

With all that has been in the news recently I have concluded that to want to work in D.C. or if you are working in D.C. you have had a “logic-ectomy.” Otherwise, who would want to work among all that corruption?

Under the Obama Administration, the 7th Floor of the Hoover Building had been conducting business like the ghost of J. Edgar was hovering over their shoulders every minute of every day.

If you don’t know the history of J. Edgar Hoover, pick up a book and read about him. He reigned unchecked for decades. The recent past heads of the CIA, DNI and the NSA make J. Edgar look like a beginner. But they had more sophisticate toys! J. Edgar is probably drooling in his grave wishing he had had such toys. And the former U.S. Attorney Generals felt free to pick and choose which laws they wanted to enforce. And the Secretary’s of State were, well, just think Russia Reset Button, Benghazi and James Taylor and it will give you an idea of their incompetency.

But my main question is how do all these people become millionaires while working on a government salary? And I’m not limiting this to just Democrats. There are Republicans I’m wondering about also.

Another saying we had in banking when wanting to find corruption – “ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY! ALWAYS!”

Where have ethics gone? But more importantly … are they coming back?

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