Weekly Opinion Editorial
POLITICAL CORRUPTION!
by Steve
Fair
A September 2026 Gallup poll found 89% of Americans believe corruption is widespread in the U.S. government. That is a 20-year high since Gallup began asking that question back in 2006. The perception doesn't appear to be partisan. Registered Democrats and Independents are a bit more cynical than Republicans, but not by much.
The liberal Brookings Institute conducted a poll in October that mirrored Gallup's findings. They went a step further and asked voters who was to blame for the turpitude in politics. Predictably the poll revealed the Ds blamed the Rs and the Rs blamed the Ds for the corruption. Three observations:
First, there are no perfect politicians. Political corruption is non-partisan. Elected officials are people- flawed, fallible, and imperfect. To expect a politician to not be subject to the same temptations and allurement as any other person is naïve. The Bible teaches man is born with an inherent sin nature. Every time a voter casts a ballot they are voting for the lesser of two evils. Electing people who you can turn your back on is critical to having good government.
Second, everyone has a 'special interest.' Campaigns and candidates paint their opponent's donors as 'special interest,' and their benefactors as unselfish patriots. Political action committees are simply citizens who have banded together to influence elections. Knowing who is contributing to a candidate/campaign reveals where their loyalties lie. But even the humblest voter has 'special interest.' All voters base their voting decision on what is best for them. Most vote with their wallet. If economic times are good, incumbents win. When they are bad the challengers prevail.
Third, political corruption is nothing new. Read about the Hamilton/Reynolds affair involving America's first Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, the Blount Conspiracy and the Burr Conspiracy in America's early history. President Andrew Jackson perfected 'the spoils system,' where he appointed his friends to government jobs, ultimately resulting in the Civil Service Act.
Oklahoma has experienced more political corruption than most states- Supreme Court Justices taking bribes, the county commissioner scandal was the biggest political scandal in American history. The Sooner state had two governors indicted. It ain't nothin to brag about.
Democrats made political corruption a key campaign issue in the midterms, but their accusations, insinuations, and aspersions appear to not be based in fact. That tactic has always been a part of politics, but It has been taken to the next level in the last decade.
Political corruption flourishes when citizens don't hold elected officials accountable. How does the average voter hold elected officials accountable? Three ways. First, know who your elected officials are. Many voters have no clue who their representatives are and their duties. Elected officials who are inaccessible, aloof, prideful and arrogant are unfit for office- drop them like a rock. Second, track an elected official's performance. That may involve monitoring legislation, their voting record, and their administrative policies. Don't take their word on anything- trust, but verify. Third, vote! Elected officials don't listen to non-voters. Faithful voters make a difference, so long as they are not blindly loyal.
When political action groups use dark money to finance
attack ads with a devious, less than truthful message, it should be as sounding
brass and tinkling cymbal to knowledgeable voters. Being an educated voter fights political
corruption more effectively than chunking out the bums and replacing them with
worse bums.
