Crime Doesn't Pay

That is what we’ve been told all our lives. The reason is simply that when caught the criminal loses more than he gained in the first place.

That appears to be true for the most part. Even the so-called greatest Ponzi schemer of our time, Bernard Madoff is most likely going to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

But what about the criminals that do not get caught? Are they doomed to a Dostoyevsky like life of fear? Will they forever be looking over their shoulder unable to enjoy their ill-gotten gains?

I guess we will never know the answer to that since by definition they have not been caught.

But a small group of quasi criminals have found a novel way to steal from all of us and not be brought to justice. They live out in the open in every community across America. We see their faces in the papers and on television every day. They are our elected officials.

With the economy in the proverbial toilet a worker lucky enough to still have a job knows that if he does not live up to expectations he will be fired. But our politicians have been asleep at the switch for quite a while now and they reward themselves with raises!

Last week a Nassau County Republican, Mr. Peter Schmitt of Massapequa, who had run on a ticket of fiscal responsibility and cutbacks agreed to cut back his self approved 47% raise amidst public outrage.

But he is not alone in his belief that he was elected to do anything he pleases. It was revealed that just about every politician across Long Island has their finger in our pockets for jobs not well done!

With self raises of anywhere from 5% to a whopping 10½% politicians from both sides of the political aisle are raping us every day. Where shall this money come from? Since our elected officials produce no product their only source of income is the tax table.

Not one week goes by without those annoying self promoting fliers arriving in my mailbox from a Kate Murray or a Donald Clavin. These mailers telling me how wonderful these politicians are cost money – OUR MONEY - MY MONEY!

I am certain anyone who wishes to look into their own local government will find much of the same going on. Politics is known as "the art of the possible." All politicians realize the possibilities inherent in the system and almost all of them pad their pockets as a result.

With warnings of budget deficits and necessary rollbacks of services how can we allow these people who have clearly not done a good job to receive raises? And just as importantly how can they justify taking them?

I guess my original premise was wrong. Crime does pay. After all, to paraphrase Richard Nixon it's not against the law if it's committed by the law makers!