Daily Lesson from Life 11 October 2008

"Republicans on defensive after probe accuses Palin of abuse
Alaska 'Troopergate' threatens to torpedo their campaign. -Sat, Oct 11, 2008 AFP

JUNEAU, Alaska: The Republican presidential ticket was on the defensive on Saturday after investigators found vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin had abused her powers as Alaska governor.


As Republican White House hopeful John McCain sought to restore control over his unruly rallies which have seen a stream of invective, including a death threat, targeted at Democratic rival Barack Obama, the "troopergate" scandal threatened to torpedo his campaign.

In a long-awaited 263-page report released by Alaska's Legislative Council, investigator Steve Branchflower said on Friday Palin was guilty of violating ethics rules for public officials.

He said Palin had allowed her husband Todd Palin to use the Alaska governor's office and its resources to pressure officials to fire her former brother-in-law, state trooper Mike Wooten.


"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda... to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired," the report said.

"She had the authority and power to require Mr Palin to cease contacting subordinates, but she failed to act," the report added."

This is revealing as America, already bankrupt as the champion of 'free market' and the most accomplished financially developed nation on earth, also showed itself to be not that much different from many regimes in the world that it criticized as corrupt!

The main difference really is: in the US system, anyone can reveal the facts about politically powerful people if they want to. Sometimes, the news media can report such abuses without fears or favors. Sometimes, like in this case, the Republicans claimed this to be a politically motivated one. Which, they also accused China of doing when big cases were thrown at some high ranking government officials!

Lessons for me are:

1. if you want to be a leader, be clear about who you are and be clear about your past. You must have the confidence that you have, and your family members actually, not done anything wrong in the past and that no one can dig out dirt about you and your family;

2. to be able to achieve item 1, the leader simply just has to live a life of strict adherence to high principle. Constant respect for people will be one. With that I am sure you will not do anything that violate others' right! It will take living the principle and make it into a habit. It has to be genuine for it to be real!;

3. in this world, if you want to earn the right to criticize others, you have to ensure that your house is clean first. The USA has really lost the moral authority to criticize anyone with that way things are going in their own backyard. Hopefully, they will concentrate on cleaning up before they try to act like they are the savior of the confused and chaotic world!

All the best to Ms Palin and Sanator Obama!