Diane Melendez
03-09-2009, 12:23 AM
Politics and Jacksonville always seem to be... how shall I put this... less than healthy to ones spirit and hope for a lovely and peaceful afterlife. Of course, If you don't believe in an afterlife, what you do is what you do...end of story.
I for one do believe that we move onto another level of existence when we leave this life and I also believe that the degree of peace and happiness we face is directly related to the type of person we were when we lived on earth. :angel: How we treated others, what did we do for others, how we loved or did not love is paramount. Is humanity better off for our having been a part of it? Material wealth and power are "not" of any importance in the next life. I mean when was the last time anyone saw a U-Haul following a hearse? Did you ever hear a story about someone coming back to life after being declared clinically dead and say that "God" wanted to know how much money they made? I doubt it. The realities of truth, honor and fairness is what I think about a lot, especially when dealing with politicians. Why politicians you may ask? Well...because their will to lead on behalf of other people has committed them permanently, for good or bad to those people. A kind of Karma that when good, is great. When bad, well it can be a real kick in the ass.
Of course there are good people in politics. There are those who fight for the needs and rights of the people they represent. They are honest, forthright and fair. They give because they want to give back. How many fine people like this are drawn to Jacksonville politics? Ask any one of our current politicians and they will likely all tell you, I am a good guy or gal and I work selflessly for the average citizen. In response I would say to many of them.....bull malarkey. You are in this for power and personal wealth first. Good stuff often comes after you have taken care of business. That being political favors, back scratching and making sure tax dollars fall into the right pockets.
Have these politicians sold their souls and if so, do they even realize it? This is another question I ponder. Not literally one selling ones soul, but a type of political delusion that causes people to do bad, greedy, selfish things and convince themselves that what they are doing is right because they need it to be. A kind of denial of truth.
You can tell when they do this. A dead give away is "I do what I have to do" in order to get along. "If I don't take this money, someone else will." "If I don't agree to vote the way a special interest or connected politician want's me to vote, I will not get ahead."
We have more politicians who think like this than most people realize which begs the question, why do most people not see the lies when they are told? The manipulations when they are happening? I believe that is because the average person is basically honest and does not want to believe that they have misplaced their trust when electing certain politicians. The truth of the matter is that very often that trust is broken on a regular basis. But, how can we tell? How can the politician who is in denial tell? Or do they even care?
I am guessing most have convinced themselves that they care, even when their personal actions scream otherwise. So I want to give those who may have stepped off the path of truthfulness and honesty a chance to "see themselves". The following is a list of clues that you may not be who you pretend to be if you are connected to Jacksonville politics.
Here are the clues...
If you....are a member of council and have two or three way calls with
other council members and local lobbyists, you are
"Not" an honest politician.
....If you Have committed to support or vote for the needs of special
interests and friends regardless of what is good for the people,
you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you set up shell companies or enter agreements with local
builders and contractors in order to funnel money into your own
hands or companies, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you make a great show of praying at public functions and lie
in private at those same functions, you are "Not" an honest
politician
....If you have had someone fired because you feared what they
knew or because they refused to do your will, you are "Not" an
honest politician.
....If you have ever threatened anyone's employment or business
for political gain, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you have skimmed funds off of your political campaigns for family
and friends for services never rendered, you are "Not" an honest
politician.
....If you do not read correspondence sent to you by constituents
and take those concerns to heart, you are "Not" an honest
politician.
....If you do not answer constituents correspondence sent to your
office, you are being rude and dismissive of those constituents.
....If you have screamed at someone because they did not bow to
your will or engage your personal needs to expand your wealth,
you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you promise deals and favors to particular businesses and
interests in backroom talks, out of the Sunshine, you are "Not
an honest politician.
....If you attempt to marginalize individuals with which you do not
agree by questioning their integrity and insulting their worth, you
are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you hide your sexual identity for political expedience behind the
covenant of marriage, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you are the mayor and you cut deals with past mayors who
lobby for their associate businesses and enterprises to use
tax dollars to fund those enterprises, you are "Not" an honest
politician.
....If you use pressure to manipulate media, or lie to media about
important public issues, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you make decisions for the city or the expenditure of tax dollars to
benefit someone like your father or his business enterprise, you
are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you and fellow politicians enter into agreements at the state
level in order to sell or enhance your personal property, you are
"Not" an honest politician. (Hello Corrine Brown and Betty
Holzendorf).
....If you condescend to constituents, or think their concerns are
foolish or meaningless, You are "Not" a good politician.
....If you are caught in a misdeed or mistake and excuse that deed
by claiming "You didn't know it was wrong", you are "Not" an
honest politician.
....If you take trips on taxpayers money to make connections for
yourself, eat high on the hog, or rub elbows with the right people,
you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you accept multiple political contributions over legal limits, from one entity hidden by shell
businesses, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you agree to drop out of a political race when promised another
position or a large donation to your favorite "enterprise", you are
"Not" an honest politician.
....If you have stolen public funds, for any reason, you are "Not" an
honest politician.
....If you look to the city for special treatment during a natural
disaster, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you allow your district to be plowed under, historical or other
wise and do nothing, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you prop up other politicians who do wrong or hide their
addictions, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you tell the public they should spend 3/4 a billion dollars
on a no bid contract because you fear being sued, you are not only
not a good politician...you are way too weak to be in office.
....If you stand by and let General Council make bad deals in order to
enrich private entities or protect you from wrongdoing during
Grand Jury investigations, you are "Not' an honest politician.
....If you swore you will not violate the Sunshine Law and continue to
do so, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you promise a vote to this Mayor in advance of an open vote in
council and before the people have had a chance to speak on it,
you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you curry favor for your administration by placing your buddies
on various boards and committees to support your agenda, you
are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you are on the council and participate in any efforts to exclude
or marginalize another council member, you are "Not" an honest
politician and you are a really lousy individual.
....If you set up an Ethics Office and designate an Ethics Officer
and then try and drive them out because they do their job, you
are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you are not willing to take a pay cut while at the same time
cutting services to this community, you are "Not" even handed
or fair minded.
....If you think that the City is a separate entity to the people and
there is "City" money to be divided up and spent as you alone see fit, you are
delusional and "Not" an honest politician.
These are just a few ways to tell if you are a good and honest politician or not. Those who are truthful, will recognize themselves in these inquiries. If the shoe fits, or any one thing rings true, you need to get it right cause you see, you may think you are on top while you live and breath but be horrified to find yourself at the lowest spiritual rungs when you leave this life. Perhaps you have run a good game and garnered power and money, but you will never have respect, not really. You may have some sort of honor among thieves, but someplace, sometime there will be a day of judgment. Oh, and the chances are pretty good that you have sold your soul and just don't know it yet.
And to those who read here, if you recognize any of these behaviors among the politicians you may have voted for...well call them out and let them know, that it is not acceptable and you won't have it. Then don't support or vote for them ever again. God will handle the rest. You can count on it.
I for one do believe that we move onto another level of existence when we leave this life and I also believe that the degree of peace and happiness we face is directly related to the type of person we were when we lived on earth. :angel: How we treated others, what did we do for others, how we loved or did not love is paramount. Is humanity better off for our having been a part of it? Material wealth and power are "not" of any importance in the next life. I mean when was the last time anyone saw a U-Haul following a hearse? Did you ever hear a story about someone coming back to life after being declared clinically dead and say that "God" wanted to know how much money they made? I doubt it. The realities of truth, honor and fairness is what I think about a lot, especially when dealing with politicians. Why politicians you may ask? Well...because their will to lead on behalf of other people has committed them permanently, for good or bad to those people. A kind of Karma that when good, is great. When bad, well it can be a real kick in the ass.
Of course there are good people in politics. There are those who fight for the needs and rights of the people they represent. They are honest, forthright and fair. They give because they want to give back. How many fine people like this are drawn to Jacksonville politics? Ask any one of our current politicians and they will likely all tell you, I am a good guy or gal and I work selflessly for the average citizen. In response I would say to many of them.....bull malarkey. You are in this for power and personal wealth first. Good stuff often comes after you have taken care of business. That being political favors, back scratching and making sure tax dollars fall into the right pockets.
Have these politicians sold their souls and if so, do they even realize it? This is another question I ponder. Not literally one selling ones soul, but a type of political delusion that causes people to do bad, greedy, selfish things and convince themselves that what they are doing is right because they need it to be. A kind of denial of truth.
You can tell when they do this. A dead give away is "I do what I have to do" in order to get along. "If I don't take this money, someone else will." "If I don't agree to vote the way a special interest or connected politician want's me to vote, I will not get ahead."
We have more politicians who think like this than most people realize which begs the question, why do most people not see the lies when they are told? The manipulations when they are happening? I believe that is because the average person is basically honest and does not want to believe that they have misplaced their trust when electing certain politicians. The truth of the matter is that very often that trust is broken on a regular basis. But, how can we tell? How can the politician who is in denial tell? Or do they even care?
I am guessing most have convinced themselves that they care, even when their personal actions scream otherwise. So I want to give those who may have stepped off the path of truthfulness and honesty a chance to "see themselves". The following is a list of clues that you may not be who you pretend to be if you are connected to Jacksonville politics.
Here are the clues...
If you....are a member of council and have two or three way calls with
other council members and local lobbyists, you are
"Not" an honest politician.
....If you Have committed to support or vote for the needs of special
interests and friends regardless of what is good for the people,
you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you set up shell companies or enter agreements with local
builders and contractors in order to funnel money into your own
hands or companies, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you make a great show of praying at public functions and lie
in private at those same functions, you are "Not" an honest
politician
....If you have had someone fired because you feared what they
knew or because they refused to do your will, you are "Not" an
honest politician.
....If you have ever threatened anyone's employment or business
for political gain, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you have skimmed funds off of your political campaigns for family
and friends for services never rendered, you are "Not" an honest
politician.
....If you do not read correspondence sent to you by constituents
and take those concerns to heart, you are "Not" an honest
politician.
....If you do not answer constituents correspondence sent to your
office, you are being rude and dismissive of those constituents.
....If you have screamed at someone because they did not bow to
your will or engage your personal needs to expand your wealth,
you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you promise deals and favors to particular businesses and
interests in backroom talks, out of the Sunshine, you are "Not
an honest politician.
....If you attempt to marginalize individuals with which you do not
agree by questioning their integrity and insulting their worth, you
are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you hide your sexual identity for political expedience behind the
covenant of marriage, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you are the mayor and you cut deals with past mayors who
lobby for their associate businesses and enterprises to use
tax dollars to fund those enterprises, you are "Not" an honest
politician.
....If you use pressure to manipulate media, or lie to media about
important public issues, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you make decisions for the city or the expenditure of tax dollars to
benefit someone like your father or his business enterprise, you
are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you and fellow politicians enter into agreements at the state
level in order to sell or enhance your personal property, you are
"Not" an honest politician. (Hello Corrine Brown and Betty
Holzendorf).
....If you condescend to constituents, or think their concerns are
foolish or meaningless, You are "Not" a good politician.
....If you are caught in a misdeed or mistake and excuse that deed
by claiming "You didn't know it was wrong", you are "Not" an
honest politician.
....If you take trips on taxpayers money to make connections for
yourself, eat high on the hog, or rub elbows with the right people,
you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you accept multiple political contributions over legal limits, from one entity hidden by shell
businesses, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you agree to drop out of a political race when promised another
position or a large donation to your favorite "enterprise", you are
"Not" an honest politician.
....If you have stolen public funds, for any reason, you are "Not" an
honest politician.
....If you look to the city for special treatment during a natural
disaster, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you allow your district to be plowed under, historical or other
wise and do nothing, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you prop up other politicians who do wrong or hide their
addictions, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you tell the public they should spend 3/4 a billion dollars
on a no bid contract because you fear being sued, you are not only
not a good politician...you are way too weak to be in office.
....If you stand by and let General Council make bad deals in order to
enrich private entities or protect you from wrongdoing during
Grand Jury investigations, you are "Not' an honest politician.
....If you swore you will not violate the Sunshine Law and continue to
do so, you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you promise a vote to this Mayor in advance of an open vote in
council and before the people have had a chance to speak on it,
you are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you curry favor for your administration by placing your buddies
on various boards and committees to support your agenda, you
are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you are on the council and participate in any efforts to exclude
or marginalize another council member, you are "Not" an honest
politician and you are a really lousy individual.
....If you set up an Ethics Office and designate an Ethics Officer
and then try and drive them out because they do their job, you
are "Not" an honest politician.
....If you are not willing to take a pay cut while at the same time
cutting services to this community, you are "Not" even handed
or fair minded.
....If you think that the City is a separate entity to the people and
there is "City" money to be divided up and spent as you alone see fit, you are
delusional and "Not" an honest politician.
These are just a few ways to tell if you are a good and honest politician or not. Those who are truthful, will recognize themselves in these inquiries. If the shoe fits, or any one thing rings true, you need to get it right cause you see, you may think you are on top while you live and breath but be horrified to find yourself at the lowest spiritual rungs when you leave this life. Perhaps you have run a good game and garnered power and money, but you will never have respect, not really. You may have some sort of honor among thieves, but someplace, sometime there will be a day of judgment. Oh, and the chances are pretty good that you have sold your soul and just don't know it yet.
And to those who read here, if you recognize any of these behaviors among the politicians you may have voted for...well call them out and let them know, that it is not acceptable and you won't have it. Then don't support or vote for them ever again. God will handle the rest. You can count on it.