A powerful 5-letter word

TRUST - Yeah that's it. A word many of us have nightmares about, while others disregard the meaning all together. Is the true definition of this word weakening? It seems to be. Government scandals are common and numerous, which is so ironic because isn't the government supposed to have a reputation of dependability and honesty?

If the Eliot Spitzer case wasn't enough to prove my point, In today's NY Times, there is a story that features the numerous corruption charges brought against border patrol workers. Many are taking bribes from Mexican immigrants to let them through the border, or allow them to smuggle guns and drugs.

Here are a few examples of those who have been charged (from NY Times):

In one of the new corruption cases this month, at a border crossing east of San Diego, a customs officer allowed numerous cars with dozens of illegal immigrants and hundreds of pounds of drugs to pass through his inspection lane, investigators said.
The officer, Luis Alarid, 31, had worked at the crossing less than a year, and the loads included a vehicle driven by Mr. Alarid’s uncle, the authorities said. Mr. Alarid has pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to smuggle. Investigators found about $175,000 in cash in his house, according to court records.

The smugglers use any ruse available to lure border workers but seem to favor deploying attractive women as bait. They flirt and charm and beg the officers, often middle-aged men, to “just this once” let an unauthorized relative or friend through. And then another and another.
Prosecutors believe this is how smugglers ensnared Mr. Gilliland, who eventually pleaded guilty to taking $70,000 to $120,000 in exchange for letting hundreds of illegal immigrants pass through his lane. He was sentenced last year to five years in federal prison. Two women he had befriended also pleaded guilty.
The case against Mr. Gilliland, 46, stands out for the number of immigrants he helped and the shock of a respected veteran gone bad.

The Villarreals would meet illegal immigrants near the border. The doors of their government-issue truck would swing open and Mexicans and Brazilians would climb in. Off they drove, Border Patrol agents at the wheel, but not to a station or jail, investigators said.
Instead, they said, the migrants were taken to a drop house in San Diego and later transported by others in the smuggling ring to cities and towns far from the border.

Juan Luis Sanchez, 31, a Border Patrol agent, pleaded guilty May 20 to drug, bribery and fraud charges. He admitted transporting at least 3,000 pounds of marijuana in his Border Patrol truck from summer 2002 to January 2004 in exchange for $45,000 in bribes.

-Did you notice that almost all of the names of those charged were of Mexican/Spanish decent? Therefore, I ask this question:
Do you think people of Mexican/Spanish decent should be allowed to become border patrol officers? Are they trustworthy? Or are they easily swayed?

Also, if this spurs your curiosity, then I recommend watching the Frontline Documentary tonight on PBS @ 9 PM. It will look at the corruption within border patrolling.

Strange Occurrences

No this picture isn't from the U.S. It's in Naples, Italy, where apparently sanitation is a problematic issue right now. There are an estimated 1,400 tons of trash just lying on the streets. To make matters worse, the temperature is rising causing a "stinky" situation.

Residents are beginning to burn the trash in an effort to stop the smell.

Why is there no trash pickup? Well the article, featured in today's New York Times, seemed unclear, but blamed Italy's "paralyzed political class, "European regulations" and "Italy's high public debt." Then the writer goes on the talk about a proposed bailout of the Italy ran airline "Alitalia," not really sure what that has to do with trash in the streets.

There should have been a little more investigation on the issue, but this picture definitely speaks louder than words. The story also stated that landfills in Naples are full and that the government is searching for somewhere to keep the waste.

Hmm, do you think it's time to start recycling?

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Politics:I was watching the CBS Early show yesterday. They were gearing up for the primaries and were interviewing people in both Indiana and North Carolina. One woman was asked who she was going to vote for and her answer was Hillary Clinton. The reason:

"No one knows how to stretch a dollar like a woman, and we need to stretch every dollar right now."

That is absolutely clever! Isn't it true? While many of you may disagree, think about your mom. (Mother's Day is Sunday you know.) How much did she go without so that you could have? It is instinct for a woman to save and sacrifice. Which is exactly what we need right now.

I really hate taking sides because as I writer, I want to be as objective as possible. But I'm really upset now that Hillary is probably going to have to dropout. I admire her sticking to it and if she wants to keep at I wish her the best, but I don't think Dems. are going to allow it.

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Isn't it all just so strange?

I think so...