I’ll bet our agency can out-cheat your agency.
Recently we’ve learned about abuses of power in the Obama Administration’s Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service and Environmental Protection Agency. I’m probably forgetting a few, but those are the ones that come to mind immediately.
Well, perhaps the Energy Department was feeling a little left out because it has now joined the fray with charges of nepotism against it. According to a recent Fox News report, an unnamed senior official at the department used his position in 2012 to secure competitive internships for three of his college-aged children.
The internships were part of the Student Temporary Employment Program that provides high school and college students with real-world work experience. All three of the official’s children were hired by the Department of Energy program offices as interns. A watchdog group determined that the official had discussed these potential internships for his children with a dozen other people in the department, apparently none of whom advised him against doing it.
When confronted by a watchdog group about his actions, the senior official said he did not think that he had done anything wrong. He defended his actions by saying that handing out favors to family members is a common practice in the department. The watchdog group found that to be the case, as many people in the department said they thought it was a routine occurrence.
It’s getting to the point where it’s barely even news anymore when one of the administration’s agencies is caught with its hand in the cookie jar. Any day now I expect to see a newspaper headline that says, “No Obama Administration Agency Caught in Wrongdoing This Week.” Now, that would be news!
How do you feel about the never-ending stories of governmental abuse? Do they surprise you, or is this exactly what you expected would happen with this administration? And do you think we’re “up to date” regarding the scandals, or do you believe that there are probably plenty more going on that we may or may not ever hear about? I’d love to learn what you think about this.
We now have something worse than slavery; internships. One gets to pay an institution to work and then keep paying loan for working and pay on the income received. Slavery was abolished so they could create something more sinister. We ALL are now something below slaves with no chance of truly being free.
There is nothing wrong with getting your own kids into the workforce. Assuming they were qualified for the job. They will do a good job too. Or their father will know about it. This is way better training than letting them sit at home doing nothing.
So, while I am not a supporter of the administration and look forward to some “change” in about 2 years, I don’t see this as a big deal. As a previous poster stated, this practice is common across all businesses. If they weren’t qualified or they weren’t workingbut getting paid, different deal. Otherwise, there are bigger fish to fry in this camp. Thanks to whoever did notice it for keeping an eye out though.
Washington DC is so bad at this point only a good flush will solve all the problems they have created over the past 102 years starting with the creation of the Federal Reserve way back in 1913. Everything our Government has its hands in has failed and it is time to start over.
Not surprised. This happens in every administration that I can remember back 50+ years.
just look at North Korea for perfect example. Little fat boy becomes god.. what BS!
Keep it in the family. It’s how some kid becomes your boss without any experirince or common sense.
… there’s one thing I learned at a very early age that hasn’t changed. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” It doesn’t matter if you’re hauling hay or in the halls of congress, related to or a friend of.
SURPRISE!!!! Oh, your not surprised. Funny thing, I’m not either. Anybody who knows anything about our Government knows this, They All Feel that They ARE Entitled. Why, you ask? Because they are civil servants in a nowhere job doing the same thing day in and day out.
These Government people cheat and steal from the Paying Tax Payer by taking what they feel they are entitled too. As long as they or their family or friends can benefit; either financially or in obtaining a job or position. With the proper knowledge, these Government workers often take short cuts, provide guidance or assistance or outright force an applicant through the hiring practice. The sad thing is, they don’t feel that they did anything wrong. You see, this action is in all aspects of government work from the police force, fire department, Federal Government agencies, even construction crews working on State or city highways and roads.
So, are you really surprise when you hear or see this in the newspapers? I’m not. Like you, I’m just surprise at their gall thinking that action it is alright because others before them have done it. It is the case of “Monkey see, Monkey do.” As long as they don’t get caught then who really cares.
So the sixty-four dollar question is what can you do about it. Well that is easy, you fire them, right? Well you can, but, what is to stop the next person that feels that they are entitled? You fine them as well. A good shot in the arm of a $10,000 dollar fine will make most people stand up and take notice, wouldn’t you say? Hold the department head responsible and fine them too. They should be doing their job of keeping an eye on their employees.
Accountability, integrity, responsibility, respectability, and dependability are traits that we all look for in our civil servants. Why is it so damn hard for find people with these traits? Is it the sign of the times or are we all to flawed to expect the best out of our government workers? I like to think not. What do you think?
Do you remember senator Williams was convicted on May 1, 1981 for taking bribes in the Abscam sting operation.He coined a phrase caught on tape he said in Washington dc money talks BS walks. HOW TRUE look what going on today
PS
we need more stings like that it would clean House and get ride of the garbage
Funny thing, I’ve always heard that Shit floats or it rolls down hill. If it floats you tend to leave it alone. If it rolls down hill you don’t want to get in the way or get caught at the bottom of the hill. What is needed is transparency, from start to finish. The way they vote down to how they earn their monies.
If anyone was watching Glenn Beck’s program five or six years ago, none of the corruption we see in our government should surprise us. He predicted most of what is happening.
Great, another guy with ESP.
First off, you state this “news” originates from FOX News which at many times has broadcast reports without investigating if true or not, and at times it is not true (not saying other networks don’t do the same).
Second, if you are a good journalist you would also check on the validity of this story before running off with it.
Thirdly, although what may have happened in regards to this story I must ask if anything is different from previous administrations. We all know that it has. So then I must ask if you ran a similar story about those happenings?
I bet you did not.
What does this have to do with the topic at hand? Focus Mike, Focus.
Have no one to blame but the Congressmen, & Senators not doing their Jobs, neither side. If they had, this President would have been impeached a long time ago. He has done what he had planed from the start. To fundamentally destroy America. All these spineless Congressmen & Senators don’t realize, NO AMERICA, NO CONGRESSMEN & Senators. They will be like the rest of us in Obama’s eyes, just a bunch of trash. So thanks Congress, your the real trash. To let a sick person destroy our lives & yours. ALL for Greed, MONEY!! But money want keep U from the pits of HELL! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!
I don’t think it’s for greed or money I think its for his Muslim socialistic agenda.
As a whole, this is the most corrupt generation of people and businesses/government that this country has ever seen !!
Billy –
And with that short but effective statement, you have summed-up exactly why these things are happening, AND exactly what is responsible. Nicely done. Sad statement about our current society, but still nicely done.
Everything is different in an Organization such as the Government . The money they use to operate on IS OUR MONEY. Tax Payer Dollars. These people are treating these dollars as private funds, Get your hands out of the till and go back to doing your job.
Surprised No.
Three internships? That’s it? That’s what we’re worrying about here? Okay, if there is a system to vet internship candidates that would be the best way to handle this, however, who hasn’t heard of this kind of favoritism happening in any family business or administration? Its called “connections”. think Chelsea Cljnton, G.W. Bush, Caroline Kennedy, the Murdoch boys. Do you think if their mommys and daddys weren’t who they were that they would have gotten where they did?
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I believe this statement to be true no matter what political party is in control.
Anyone heard of the fall of the Roman Empire? Moral and political corruption, sound familiar? “A little revolution is good, now and then” Tomas Jefferson!
Has the 3 internships been taken back and given to someone that actually deserves to have a chance to work there or will nothing be done about this either.
When we get honest men running for government office, the public tends to seek any means they can find to demean and chastise them. What can we expect when lawless men are not only voted in but some people never vote “because my vote won’t count”1 No, folks, your vote did not count because you sat at home and ridiculed good decent men instead of going to the poles! Maybe next time you’ll realize (or not) what you allowed to happen!
Well put Deanna. Bravo!!!!!!
Does anyone know if this agency has done the same thing (nepotism) during the Bush administration or is this something new since 2008?
I suppose you want to blame Bush for this to. When are you going to open your eyes and see Obama and his administration for what it is without pointing the finger at Bush.
David, when you point at someone there are three fingers pointing at you. Remember that from being a little kid? G.W> Bush was so bad as a president that he made it easy for the current president to blame him for all the screw ups – and we have to admit it is true. Had G.W. Bush kept a clean house then things would have been different. But Bush didn’t care. He was an incompetent boob.
Hey Frank! The video that was posted on a reply a couple days ago says it all. My wife and I watched it on Saturday and showed it at church Sunday night. I would be good if everyone in the US could see it. Watch it at:
http://vimeo.com/63749370
This video is not valid. It says there was never a video to watch
With all of the complaining about Obama and his staff, and other government agencies, why has no one started screaming for impeachment? Bitch and complain doean’t do any good. Action on the other hand works every time… Lets go to work people!
The reason is if you do scream impeachment the will brand you a racist and destroy you in the Obama media agency
Numerous organizations and hordes of individuals have been pushing impeachment for quite some time. Obama is getting more daring all the time, like he is challenging anyone to take action against him. The “elite” Republican “leadership” aren’t interested in doing anything, but several outspoken conservatives are getting closer.
The example here of nepotism in Obama’s administration will add more fuel to the fire. Most telling was the statement that the Department of Energy sees nothing wrong with it, “everybody’s doing it.”
In Obama’s world, that is very true. Wielding power for personal benefit is what Socialists and Communists do, and we can add Muslims to the list. Too bad that America is so far gone that few object to it.
Well, I think that the real reason that the House is not rushing to impeach Obama is that they realize that they can pass all the Articles of Impeachment they like, but as long as “Prince Harry” (Ried) is in control, the Senate will NEVER bring Obama to Trial. It would be totally pointless. Thus the lawsuit that Boehner is having drawn up.