SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

The sanctimonious are falling, once again.

About ten years ago, there was a big issue made about the integrity of sweepstakes. If you recall, the U.S. Senate had a panel investigate sweepstakes because of a poorly conceived, one sided report by 60 Minutes about people who spent huge sums of money because they felt if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be considered for a sweepstakes prize,

The report seized upon the older people that were not sophisticated, that would spend and spend on products that sat in their homes unopened. These were people who were not sophisticated in their outlook, people who did not read, that did not take time to understand what was stated in the sweepstake mailings. Their children were appalled by the idea that their parents were being duped into thinking if you don’t buy; you don’t have a chance of winning. Their children were just as ignorant as their parents.

The Senators invited Publishers Clearing House, Time Inc. and Reader’s Digest to the inquiry to explain their policies in running sweepstakes. Each state’s Attorney General governed the sweepstakes, and disclosures had to be on every mailing, especially on the outer envelope that read clearly: “NO PURCHASE NECESSARY”. On the back of every entry form were rules of the sweepstakes with the emphasis again of a “NO PURCHASE NECESSARY” line.

All the companies involved were made to pay heavy fines to the states that sued. It was very unfair, but it helped immeasurably, the careers of the phonies that reported it, and the dishonest phony Senators that ran this scam by the public. It gave the press and the politician, the illusion of honesty.

I have never voted for an honest politician. Why? There are no honest politicians. If one gets on his high horse, just remind him of his accusations, his exaggerations and his unkept promises that were all part of his election campaign.

Now I read the newspapers, watch the TV and read the internet and hear about the governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, being accused of selling President Elect Obama’s vacated Senate seat. Surprise, surprise! He is also accused of other things that are all very seedy. The man is innocent until proven guilty, however much evidence the Feds has on him. The press, in its need to make it worse, are now trying to implicate Obama in this scandal. Guilt by association its’ called. The man’s opponents are the press and the opposition party. You can expect that from the opposition party, but the press should be more objective. Give the man a chance to screw it up by himself. All politicians do it, so will Obama to some degree. I’m not suggesting that Obama is not guilty of anything, just that there is no basis to even mention his name in this scandal in an accusatory way. Let’s be fair!

Please remember my pals Joan and DD, and all those you know who need our prayers.