In the words of Joe Biden, “Corruption is a cancer: a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already-tight national [and local] budgets, crowding out important national [and local] investments. It wastes the talent of entire generations. It scares away investments and jobs.” Those words ring loudly today, words which apply to the cancer which has spread across the Commonwealth, and the many communities in the mountains.
How often have you heard a family member, a friend or someone in your community complain about corruption? It is not just the local politician, it is also those who cheat on government contracts, medical billing, and the lengthy list of appointments of unqualified individuals whose only qualification for the position is their willingness to pay-to-play.
Sadly, every dollar which lines the pockets of these corrupt individuals is one less dollar which is available to provide the services intended for the good of the community. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s top criminal investigative priority is public corruption. In the words of the FBI, “It can affect how well our borders are secured, how verdicts are handed down in courts, and how public infrastructure like roads and schools are built. It also takes a significant toll on the public’s pocketbooks; it’s estimated that public corruption costs the U.S. government and the public billions of tax dollars each year.”
Many have read the words of Lord Acton, a 19th century English historian, politician, and writer when he wrote, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Do Lord Acton’s words describe any person you may know? How often have you heard someone say, “Why doesn’t someone do something about corruption?” Most believe that it is futile to report corruption and instead choose to sit back and do nothing. And while one voice might not change anything, a chorus of voices with knowledge of corruption could change everything. Imagine a community watchdog group of thousands of voices willing to report corruption. Before long, these corrupt individuals will be looking over their shoulders out of concern that they can no longer hide in the shadows to line their pockets with taxpayer money.
So, what can be done to bring about a new day, a day which flushes corrupt individuals out of our communities? That new day could be right around the corner if the community bands together and begins reporting corruption to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (844) 596-6721 or the Kentucky Attorney General’s office at (866) 564-3672.
Admittedly, one report of corruption might not be sufficient to open a public corruption case, however, one voice, plus one voice, and another voice might just be enough to open a federal or state criminal investigation which will begin to topple those corrupt individuals willing to line their pockets. One thing is certain, once the first corrupt individual is marched into the courtroom in shackles, others will begin to consider whether it is worth giving up their freedom and spending time in prison for the tax dollars they have stolen.
In the end, it is important to end with a few more words from Joe Biden when he said, “Fighting corruption is not just good governance. It’s self-defense. It’s patriotism.”
So today, if you have information about corruption in your community, pick up your phone and report what you know. It is time to begin with one voice at a time until your voice is added to the chorus of voices willing to say we will no longer tolerate any corruption which eats away at our faith in democracy, it is time to say enough is enough.
