Politics - The best government money can buy

I watched a movie last night that was a couple of years old... Gangs of New York. Usually, I don't go for gory films, but this was historically fascinating... even if fictional. The workings of William M. "Boss" Tweed and Tammany Hall seems to have become the archetype for the City of Detroit politics... you know... "He may be a crook, but he's our crook."

Admittedly, there isn't as much violence today as during Boss Tweed's time... but the principle still stands: power is the primary goal of a politician and money paid to the politician ensures that power will be used to deliver what the payer seeks.

Last night one of my sons came home agitated about how Detroit's mayor, Coleman Young... I mean Kwame Kilpatrick... and Kwame's dear mother, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, have actively blocked the development of a new tunnel that would link Michigan and Ontario. The Detroit Free Press reported how

"Manuel (Matty) Moroun, who collects an estimated $60 million a year from the 10 million vehicles that cross his Ambassador Bridge, has urged the city not to sell [city property that would allow completion of the tunnel]."

Moroun has a virtual monopoly on commerce that has to pass the Detroit River between the U.S. and Canada. But his monopoly is costing the region dearly, according to the Free Press:

"Delays at the bridge -- the top commercial crossing between the United States and Canada -- have been compounded by extra security since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Idled trucks and production lines cost the U.S. and Canadian economies about $10 billion a year, according to a study cited by Detroit Renaissance, a group of local business leaders who support building a new tunnel."

Money... what money?

"The Morouns and their employees have contributed more than $350,000 to politicians, political action committees and both political parties since 1995.

But the $33,000 they have given Cheeks Kilpatrick over the years is more than they gave any other member of Congress from Michigan.

The Morouns also contributed $15,000 last year to help the congresswoman start the 21st Leaders political action committee. The Morouns and the congresswoman were the only donors to the PAC."

The problem is that this is not an isolated instance of political abuse of power by Kilpatrick or his staff.

But in much the same way as good Muslims around the world do not voice their opposition to so-called "Islamic" terrorists, the good black majority of Detroit do not seem concerned about their mayor... "he's our crook." You see, this is not about morality or ethics... it's all about power and the territorial imperative. It's just another example of a modern Boss Tweed flexing his political muscles to show who is really in charge. And for those who are powerless, it really feels good to have a leader who is powerful.

Coleman Young, the man who dismantled the Detroit economy with his racist policies but consolidated black power in Detroit, now lives on in a new edition... Kwame Kilpatrick, who simply has to demonstrate that he is capable of doing whatever it takes to maintain his power... and he does.

Perhaps he is not a "crook," but as Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said:

"In short, while a number of decisions made were arguably shortsighted and the indications of bad judgment or inexperience, there is not any evidence of an obstruction of justice or other criminal wrongdoing."

Shortsighted, bad judgment, inexperienced... but a good guy and a great leader.