Their success will be because good people have risen to the challenge of standing against corruption and standing by their constitutions.

Am I talking about Iraq?  Yes but also Pennsylvania.

Unfortunately, reading what is occurring in Pennsylvania shows the culture of corruption and dismissal of a constitutional mindset continues to spread.  Iraq on the other hand, lived in a culture of corruption for many years but today we continually witness government officials being removed or arrested for illegal activities.  The Iraqis know they need to have a government as unpolluted as possible in order to maintain security and growth.  Why doesn’t Pennsylvania?

The last two weeks we have seen:
• Former Congressman Curt Weldon finally gets back into the news again with the Justice Department continuing their investigation with him and his family.
• PA state legislator under yet another investigation of using our tax money to fund campaigns.  We are paying salaries to workers in the state house to work on political campaigns.
• Now ex-State Senator Vincent Fumo has more troubles as another rone of his “friends” ratted on him about $200K worth of tax payer funds being used for political campaigns.
• The fair re-districting of PA based on the upcoming 2010 census is already seen as being corrupted.  Considered the 2nd most gerrymandered state in the union the PA General Assembly doesn’t seem to be motivated to change their ways.
• More folks are quitting on Gaming Board and even more under investigation.
• The General Assembly is trying to charge people $5 for folks to walk into certain types of bars.  Not to purchase or use any services just for walking into certain establishments the state government wants your money.
• PA lobbying reform is still not advancing.
• The PA Senate recently passed a smoking-ban that not only oversteps their boundaries of authority in private businesses but is littered with loop-holes.

I can go on and on but I think you understand what I am trying to say.

Its sooooo simple that I still don’t know why I am considered by many to be too idealistic.  Bottom line, we need representation that understand the 3 keys of effective legislation.  Every piece of legislation must be constitutional, measurable, and serve the entire commonwealth.  No matter your political party affiliation is we cannot accept less.

Everyday between the Commonwealth Foundation (bipartisan) , Keystone Politics (liberal), and Grassroots PA (conservative) I read articles about the decline of government yet in Iraq I read the successful removal of corrupted officials and advancement in community efforts.  I read about PA residents growing frustrated and moving out of PA in massive numbers.  I read about more Iraqis owing business, and creating stronger communities.  I read about the middle class of PA leaving to neighboring states and yet the Iraqi middle class growing.

Two groups of people going in opposite directions because their governments are too.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

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