Bye-bye Ethics

A month or so ago, there was a great scurry in Congress to investigate ethical shortfalls and corruption. The powerful lobbyist Jack Abramoff had been indicted and there were persistent rumors that he would be naming names - rumors that put the fear of purgatory into legislators who had willingly accepted gifts and favors skimmed from the business of Native Americans.

Then the port security issue flashed into the headlines and ethical reform was pushed into a back seat. With the withdrawal of a Dubai company from its pending security contracts, the issue dissolved and passions calmed.

But what happened to the previously trumpeted interest in ethics and questionable political spending? What happened to "No stone left unturned?"

It became a non-issue. Why spend valuable time looking at our own errors, misjudgments, and crimes when it is so much more pleasant to direct the bright lights towards our enemies? Let's focus on the corruption of power in Iraq and how that somehow justified a pre-emptive invasion. Let's pay attention to gerrymandering the tax laws to make the rich richer and the little suckers broke.

Let ethical questions remain under the boulders we have piled up so diligently. After all, if we pick up a rock, who knows what will come crawling out?