Some Gates Left Unguarded

Once again, it comes down to the issues of the public’s right to know and putting mechanisms in place to watch the taxpayer’s back.

Courtesy: diverseeducation.com

(HARRISVILLE, N.H.) - According to an article written by “The Personal Liberty News Desk”, and published today, a bipartisan group of eight lawmakers, including four Republicans, three, Democrats, and one Independent, signed a letter to President Obama. This letter requested the President hire more inspectors general in order to help prevent waste, fraud, and corruption in the Federal government.

The letter expressed their concerns over the lack of watchdogs in various departments, according to the Wall Street Journal. There are nine inspector general positions currently vacant, including at the State, Justice, Homeland Security, and Labor departments.

“Many of these vacancies involve departments and agencies responsible for oversight of several of your Administration’s most important initiatives,” the letter reads.

Here we have members of congress recognizing the potential for increased waste, fraud, and corruption and trying to do something about it. Whether our President and his Administration will take timely and meaningful action as a result of this warning remains to be seen.

To have departments and agencies that are responsible for wielding so much power and spending so many taxpayer dollars insufficiently guarded would be foolish. Doing so after a public warning by a truly bipartisan group would likely raise questions about the veracity and intent of the Obama Administration. However, if President Obama takes this opportunity to keep his promise of increased transparency in government, it would be a giant-step in the right direction and could bode well for him in the 2012 elections.

Once again, it comes down to the issues of the public’s right to know and putting mechanisms in place to watch the taxpayer’s back. Considering past events, political history, and the deteriorating Congressional track record, we certainly need more watchdogs and hopefully, we will get the needed watchdogs. We can only hope that they will be put in place without a Congressional dentist removing their teeth first... but, that is just my opinion!

Writer Robert Collinsworth is an American who isn't hesitant to talk about the good side of his country, and that is a welcome thing in this day and age. Salem-News.com admittedly, is very critical of both American politics, as well as those of other nations that we perceive is being wrong in their motives and actions. At the same time, within these structures we criticize, are many outstanding people who make each day a better place for all those around them. They embody and personify the American spirit that is sometimes fleeting, but always present.

These are some of the things Robert takes into account when writing commentary that is designed reach people, to "get them thinking" in his words, and indeed it does. Salem-News.com's goal is for all people to be on the same page, we appreciate Bob's more conservative approach toward that same goal."

You can write to Bob Collingsworth at this email address: colli2@webryders.net