new jersey lawmakers get tough:
Believe it or not, this may be one of the first legislative efforts to make corruption itself a punishable offense. Most officials get nailed on tax evasion, or lying to a grand jury. if they are considering a bill, it would have to have a definition of corruption. stay tuned.
APP.COM - N.J. lawmakers to get tough on corruption | Asbury Park Press Online: "TRENTON � New Jersey legislators are trying to demonstrate that they are serious about combating corruption among public officials and employees, in a state with a reputation stained by numerous high-profile scandals over the years.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing today on six bills that would raise the penalties for public officials and employees guilty of corruption.
The committee was also expected to vote on three bills today that would impose a minimum mandatory prison term and require the forfeiture of pensions and other retirement benefits for any public official or employee convicted of public corruption.
The committee is also slated to consider bills that would establish the crime, 'corruption of public resources,' would increase the statute of limitations from five to seven years for certain crimes involving political corruption, and would establish a 'Public Corruption Profiteering Penalty Act' to increase fines by as much as three times the value of any property involved.
The state that has had some high-profile corruption cases in recent years:"

What? Modern Day Vote Fraud? And in Stodgy old England?
I'm shocked, shocked!!!
Telegraph | News | Electoral fraud 'on a massive scale': "Corruption and vote rigging ahead of next week's local elections are taking place on a 'massive' scale, the Respect MP George Galloway has claimed.

Postal voting forms
He says his party has uncovered evidence proving that hundreds of postal votes have gone astray in the London borough of Tower Hamlets.
Special Branch are investigating the claims and police are looking into similar allegations in six other parts of London including Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Merton, Southwark, Hounslow and Barnet.
Their inquiries come after a 50-year-old woman was bailed in Birmingham a day after her arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. The arrest came after a raid allegedly recovered a 'large quantity' of postal voting forms.
Allegations of postal vote fraud surrounded local elections in Birmingham in June 2004. A subsequent inquiry found that ballot-rigging in two of the city's wards 'would have disgraced a banana republic'."

Kaavya Viswanathan. Oh my god! I just can't stop reading about this sordid tale. do I feel sorry for the poor little rich girl, angry that she did something so wrong?
Stop me before I google again, but meanwhile, read this from Slate.
My failed fling with a book packager. By John�Barlow: "Half a million! I read it. I said the words out loud. Then I glanced at the sales figures for my own novel, which had just made its spectacular debut on the Lower East Side of the midlist. I felt sick. A 17-year-old high-school student, Kaavya Viswanathan, gets a half-million-dollar advance through a book packager that I also wrote for, doing the self-same thing. Only I didn't get the half mil. Nor the acres of publicity. Then again, neither did I get accused of plagiarism. This is how it happened."

Kaavya Viswanathan learns a lesson. Maybe not the one she intended.
The issue with chick lit author wannabe Kaavya Viswanathan has opened a window into the world of book packagers: finally an explanation of how this business works, packaging plot and characters into something like a TV serial drama between book covers.
And they have been very successful.
But here, as I said in an earlier post, we have the worst of all worlds, commodification of a young and naive writer, for her background and race, not her talent, an obscene advance, and a formulaic product which gets pay to play coverage from the NYT.
so, with the agent, the connections, the NY address, the book moves on up the NYT list, along with its sister creations from Alloy, the company that also owns Delias, a clothing and lifestyle retailer in the pre-teen girls market. "This Sunday, books created by Alloy will be ranked at Nos. 1, 5 and 9 on The New York Times's children's paperback best-seller list."

First, Plot and Character. Then, Find an Author. - New York Times: "Nobody associated with the plagiarism accusations is pointing fingers at Alloy, a behind-the-scenes creator of some of the hottest books in young-adult publishing. Ms. Viswanathan says that she alone is responsible for borrowing portions of two novels by Megan McCafferty, 'Sloppy Firsts' and 'Second Helpings.' But at the very least, the incident opens a window onto a powerful company with lucrative, if tangled, relationships within the publishing industry that might take fans of series like 'The It Girl' by surprise.
In many cases, editors at Alloy � known as a 'book packager' � craft proposals for publishers and create plotlines and characters before handing them over to a writer (or a string of writers)."

Commodification
I am posting agin on this, inspired by another blogger, Tish. "They saw a very marketable commodity--young, Asian-Indian, Harvard, pretty."
in other words, its not about the writing, its about commodification of this youg person for her attributes, as away to crack a market, as many another blogger also suggests. and as they also hint, what's next? did she actually write the book?

Snarkaholic: A Case of Immaturity and Irresponsibility: "The problem, then, is not with her, but with a publshing house--Little Brown-- assumed a young person to be someone that she is not--mature enough to pen a spotless novel. The publisher rushed someone to press who should possibly have knocked around a bit, publishing in small presses, going to college, reading her stuff to peers.

That rush, perhaps, comes from a need for money--not a concern for quality work nor for the reputation or life of a young person. They saw a very marketable commodity--young, Asian-Indian, Harvard, pretty. The didn't see a young person who may have needed time to learn."

At the top of the issues list for auhors is the chick lit scandal involving the Harvard Undergraduate who was given a $$$500,000 advance by Little Brown, and then turned out to have "internalized" 30 or 40 paragraphs from another chick-lit paragon.
Too lazy to put my own thoughts together on this, I found another blogger who hits all of the high points, namely, why would any publisher give a 17 year old a 6 figure advance? and is anyone really that good a writer? does publishng these days really have anything to do with good writing? or is it all about who you know?
The unfortunate author of the blog shares the same last name as the perpetrator, but I think she is right on the mark that this is really not about the author, it is about the cultural bankruptcy and corruption in the world of big New York publishers.
the lawyer writer: A Viswanathan By Any Other Name: "So this is How Kaavya Got Published, and Got Caught. But who cares? The only child of two doctors, with access to private Ivy League consultants and a Harvard business degree awaiting, she can put the money in the bank and toddle off. Because she's underage when she wrote the book, it'll be pretty hard to sue her for libel or slander. Only the truly vengeful--or, alternatively, Ms. McCafferty--should care enough to do so. As for the editors/agents/adults? Indian journalist Nilanja (yes, that sounds like my name too) S. Roy notes in The Business Standard that 'Kaavya�s editors were comfortable admitting that Opal Mehta needed more work and more �inputs� than most manuscripts, though they gave her credit for an �original� idea' and that the public 'did have a fair idea of the many processes that went into the manufacture of this book, complete with the advance, the hype, the deal.'

The truth is, this is solely at the feet of the publishing industry, thinking that writing is some sort of game that anyone can play, if they get enough high-powered advance press on their side. Writing, even in this age of publishing, should be for writers--trained, experienced, accomplished writers who understand the business of publishing. (I hope to be one). Throwing a half million dollars at a kid with only her own judgement to guide her is irresponsible, offensive to those who work at our craft, and just plain dumb in terms of business. Kaavya's agent agrees with me 100% arguing--in her defense no less, that 'teenagers tend to adopt each other's language' and 'as a former teenager myself, I recall that spongelike ability to take popular culture and incorporate it into your own lexicon.' Great. I applaud your emphathy, baby, but why are you"

Systemic Corruption
Is systemic corruption bred by political machines? what is a political machine anyway? Is it a function of one party rule? or is it fostered by tolerance of corrupt practices? Attorneys general seem to isagree.
Illinois called 'petri dish' for corruption: "News Archive
Illinois called 'petri dish' for corruption
April 25, 2006
BY DEANNA BELLANDI ASSOCIATED PRESS


A convicted former governor and scandals at Chicago City Hall earned Illinois the dubious distinction of 'petri dish for corruption' at a national meeting of state prosecutors Tuesday.
The conviction last week of former Gov. George Ryan on federal racketeering and fraud charges was a backdrop for the National Association of Attorneys General's one-day summit in Chicago to talk about ways to stamp out public corruption.
'Illinois is apparently a petri dish for corruption. It is a real breeding ground,' Illinois Campaign for Political Reform director Cynthia Canary told the group.

But Illinois is not alone when it comes to public corruption.
'Louisiana is famous, if not infamous, for its corruption,' said Jim Letten, U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Louisiana and a native of New Orleans.
He said Louisiana's reputation for being tolerant of corruption has kept some people from seeking public office and kept businesses away.
But Letten said"But Letten said that climate has started to change, beginning with the corruption conviction six years ago of former Gov. Edwin Edwards.

Edwards was convicted in a case that stemmed from the licensing of riverboat casinos during his final term as governor in the 1990s. Sentenced to 10 years in prison, his earliest release date is in 2011.

In Illinois, Canary said, some reasons for corruption are a lack of political competition due to the dominance one political party in some areas, such as the Democrats in Chicago, and because there are no state limits on campaign contributions.

"It is very hard for the public to tell the difference between a campaign donation and a bribery," she said.

University of Illinois at Chicago political science professor Dick Simpson warned the attorneys general that they won't end corruption if they don't rid their states of political machines.

"You cannot have political machines and end corruption," Simpson said. "Political machines breed corruption just like garbage breeds flies."

Steering Contracts-
yet another corrupiton scandal related to steering contracts-
details sadly similar..what is it about the glitz and the luxury vacations anyway?
Connecticut News from The Hartford Courant ::: State, National, & World News On courant.com: "In a legal document expected to become public Monday, federal authorities lay out details of the cash-filled envelopes, luxury vacations, limousine trips, fancy dinners with girlfriends and visits to high-priced strip clubs that allegedly fueled a conspiracy to steer millions of dollars in state contracts."

does "privatizing" really mean, open for graft and fraud? Confirming all of our worst suspicions, seems like this is the case. In fact historically, states and municipalites have been open to corruption especially at the points where contracts and franchises are let, bid, opened, etc.
if one made a database of all of the politicians convicted for fraud or corruption, and exactly what they were convicted of, it seems to me that the vast majority would fall under graft, related to contracts.
Throughout the Republican Revolution, we have been subject to the mantra that "privatizing government functions will save money,"
Anyone who contracts out the governments business knows that this is only the case to the extent that there is adaquate oversight.
In the case of Iraq and many others, not only was no money saved, but the money which was spent failed to even complete the jobs which it was expended for.

'A free-fraud zone': "Tuesday's guilty plea by an American businessman to being part of a massive bribery and bid-rigging scheme run by members of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Iraq confirmed the worst fears about that privatized dud of a program.
'There was no oversight anywhere near them,' said the inspector general who broke the case, which involved $8.6 million in contracts, $2 million in bribes and several phony companies. 'They considered it a free-fraud zone.' "

The worst example is to contrast the health clinics and electrical plants being built for the Iraqui citizens, with the un-holy expenditures and special security measures being taken to construct the new American Embassy in Iraq. Chalmers Johnson's Sorrows of Empire coming to fruition before our eyes.
The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) Blog: Guess which Iraq reconstruction project is on time and on budget?
The $592 million facility is being built inside the heavily fortified Green Zone by 900 non-Iraqi foreign workers who are housed nearby and under the supervision of a Kuwaiti contractor, according to a Senate Foreign Relations Committee report. Construction materials have been stockpiled to avoid the dangers and delays on Iraq's roads.

"We are confident the embassy will be completed according to schedule (by June 2007) and on budget," said Justin Higgins, a State Department spokesman

And Guess which newspaper this notice appeared in?
NYT? Nope, WaPO? Nope, it was USA Today. Only.

The george Ryan Case is classic example of racketeering
Amazingly, this type of racketeering has characeterized the practice of corruption since the late 19th century.
This is almost the classic definition of corruption-
George Ryan Case is Classic example of Racketeering
Amazingly, this type of racketeering had characterized the practice of corruption since the late 19th century.
However, we need to keep in mind that, as Robin Theobold writes, the concept of corruption is predicated on the western ideal of a public sphere which is separate from private sphere, and furthermore, the existence of a disassociated secular, professionalized bureaucracy.
As articulated by German sociologist Max Weber, the perfect state embodies “the ideal of rational legal bureaucracy run by hierarchically ordered corps of officials who are recruited and promoted according to objective critera, paid a regular salary, with clear jurisdictional areas governed by clear rules and procedures.”
Has the American system really ever lived up to this ideal? Are some systems inherently corruptible?

Ex-Governor of Illinois Is Convicted on All Charges - New York Times: "After more than five months of sometimes complicated testimony in his federal case, and after five weeks of still more tangled deliberations, a jury convicted Mr. Ryan, a Republican, of granting state business to associates in exchange for cash and presents for himself, his family and his friends. "

March for Immigrant Rights: Rallys take place across the country,
I joined the march in Tucson. We did not do the whole five miles, but watched the main mass of marchers pass for nearly 20 minutes, then joined in. I estimate about 10,000, nearly all Mexican/Hispanic. what a turnout! it was very impressive, people of all ages, grandmothers and grandfathers, babies in strollers, families, veterans, and more and more and more.
This is really very historic, the first time that these workers have really stood up to claim their rights. We are the workers, they are saying, and they are.
Si Se Pueda: Yes We Can
AquiEstamos: No Nos Vamos!
We are Here, we are not Leaving
"All we want is to work and to have a better future for our children,''

I am trying to accumulate the numbers from all of the demonstrations around the country:

Atlanta 50,000
Boston 8,000
Dallas 500,000
Houston 10,000
Los Angeles 4,000
New York 125,000
Oakland 2,000
Phoenix 00,000
Providence 5,000
Sacramento 1,000
San Diego 50,000
San Francisco 5,000
San Jose 10,000
Seattle 15,000
St. Paul 30,000
Tucson 12,000
Washington 500,000
1,527,000

Daily Kos: 200,000+ March for Immigrant Rights in Phoenix

Political Crack-up Imminent?
one can only hope so. I veer between determination to get the word out by participating in blogging, letter writing, etc, and merely standing safely on the shore, watching the wreckage go by in the flood-tide.
meanwhile, I am heading off to the big immigrant rights march downtown tucson, this is going to be a big one.
the xenophobia and white rights undercurrents of those opposed to the immigrants is getting all too obvious. And those pandering to the haters are exposed for what they are.

Political Crackups: "The spectacle in Congress is no prettier. One cannot regret the fall of Tom DeLay, who combined a mastery of politics with a complete indifference to its purpose. Really, what did this man seek public office for? It's said that he was inspired by his conviction that the Environmental Protection Agency is like the Gestapo, but I suspect this theory is too kind. Unlike Newt Gingrich, who bristled with policy ideas, DeLay never seemed to care about anything beyond counting votes and cultivating links to the moneybags on K Street"