There is a Dolphin Swimming in my Tea

Corruption: The state of being rotten or putrid
It is a word we hear almost everyday now. We hear about corruption in Big Business,. We hear about corruption in government.

Corruption: The dishonest exploitation of power for personal gain
Fueled by greed and self interest it takes the blame for failure of business and the failure of government. It ensures the suffering of the many for the sake of extravagant luxury of the few.

Corruption: The result of immoral or unethical behavior.
It is a disease that eats away the fabric of society. It is not just a word. It is not an abstract event we read about in the paper. It is a way of life for a growing number of people and it is all around us. It has become such a mindset for some people that perhaps they are not even aware they are doing it or whether there is anything wrong with it. It is obvious to us when we see a politician who wants money for a personal project that does little more than ensure their own hold on power, while opposing things that common sense tells us are important, and necessary and will make life better for us all.

But, what about right here at home? I had one local employer tell me that he was opposed to the “Fair Tax Amendment” because he thought it would hurt his chances to get grants from the government and he needed them for his business. He liked things just the way they were because he knew how to “ play the game”. I would argue that this was the problem with the system, people who “ played the game” and did so for their personal gain. This same employer hired people by making insincere promises, and had more hidden charges to his customers than the phone company. Little wonder he relied on government grants for his survival since employee turn over was so high and repeat customers rare.

Another local business began their hiring process by posting a pair of big signs touting full time and part time positions and flexible hours. Two minutes into the interview, they were tossing out anyone who could not commit to working on Sundays or had any other type of scheduling conflict. Flexible?

Why lie? Why create bad feelings from the start with potential customers by saying one thing and meaning the opposite? Why so many sharks? Whatever happened swimming with the dolphins? Why would you want to work for someone or do business with someone who began their relationship with you by being false?

When we deal with each other in an unethical manner, when we lie and cheat for our personal gain, when we sow the seeds of corruption, what can we expect to reap?

Hope: A desire, a wish for a manifestation or change to take place with positive result.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The grassroots movements, the Tea Parties we see today indicate an awakening in the psyche of people. We must begin breaking the circle of corruption by standing up to it and refusing to accept it as policy. We must not validate it as a way of life or permit it to exist as “just business”. It is human nature to act in our own best interest but it violates our souls to do so at the expense of others. Any parent who would place his desires ahead of his child’s needs should not be a parent.

By voting on principles over parties, we can restore a government “for the people, by the people”. By our actions, by treating each other in an ethical and truthful manner we will restore the crumbling fabric of our society. Our best days are ahead of us.