Fighting off Corruption.

By: Lucas Reyes

Here’s a story to think about: it’s midsummer in south Florida and a hurricane swept through leaving destruction in its wake. A relief program is set up to provide aid to those who were affected. All is going well and as expected until it’s found out that only part of the relief programs funds is being used to help the public. Where’s the money going you might ask. Well into the pockets of corrupt government officials of course. Unfortunately, scandals involving political corruption like this are all too common, especially in Florida.

Florida was known to be one of the most corrupt states in our nation until it recently turned it all around. Now Florida is one of the leaders for ethics transparency, meaning the state has really managed to clean out corrupt officials. Florida’s ethics commission is among the top four ethically clean states. Florida began issuing fines left and right one of those fines being over 10,000 dollars and even suggested officials be removed for any instance of exploitation. And it doesn’t stop there as Florida means to implement more severe fines and ethics rules.

The most corrupt state managed to turn itself around. Its government and ethics commission came together to enact change. So if its possible for the worst of the worst to do it why can’t everywhere else do it too? What is holding back the rest of the country from accomplishing the same? It is mostly up to the governments and ethics commissions of this great nation to make it stays great. Mostly.

I’m going to shift from hounding large governments and refocus it on you, the reader. “Me?” I hear you saying, what could you possibly do to combat the enemy that is political corruption? Well a lot more than you might think, all it takes is a bit of commitment and determination. Here’s a few:

• Keep track of where money is coming from. Look where government money is being spent, and who is spending it. When election season is underway and people are campaigning, look to see who exactly is funding them.
• Do you like art? Draw anti-corruption cartoons or if you learn of someone who is corrupt draw cartoons exposing this.
• Know all of the petitions that float around the internet and around schools? Petitions like “bring back half-days” or “lets raid area 51”. Remarkable amounts of effort can be put into these petitions so why not start one against corruption?
• Keep tabs on your schools resources like textbooks and other supplies.

There are many ways for you, the reader, to make a difference. It’s not always best to rely on the government to solve all your problems. The United States government is supposed to serve the people but that doesn't mean we are exempt of all responsibility. It is up to us to work with our government to truly change our country for the better.