MYRL THOMPSON/Capitol Watch

May 13, 2007

On this particular day, I'm sitting quietly in the sun on my back porch, reflecting on the last four months spent in Juneau. One of the first thoughts that crossed my mind was how much I missed those white birch trees, or even trees with leaves, since I've been gone. I also came to the conclusion that I had come from a long line of porch-sitters. I remember visiting my great-grandfather. He used to sit out on the porch and think. I thought that was just the strangest thing at the time.

Grandpa and dad both used to sit on the porch in quiet reflection, too.

By that point in time, it seemed quite normal to me, if that's what they liked doing. I just didn't understand it.

They're all gone now, but I find myself sitting on the porch and pondering. It turns out that they had a wonderful idea, all along. I've learned to enjoy these peaceful, quiet moments that seem to elude us in our busy jam-packed lives.

My mind jumped back to the past legislative session that I had just escaped from. Last year, Sen. Charlie Huggins used to joke with me when we passed in the halls, “Got any scandals today, Myrl?”

He'd usually manage to hold back a smile for a while. For some reason, Charlie quit asking me that question this year.

The Capitol certainly has no shortage of scandals. They come in all shapes and sizes, little to large, legal to illegal, ethical to unethical.

It kind of reminds me of salmon fishing when I was a kid. There were only a few people out doing it, and whichever way you cast your hook, you'd get a strike.

I have written much about corruption, dirty deeds and unethical behavior over the years, but have often wondered if anyone really cares. Obviously, people do care. I'm a perfect example of that.

And many people do care, up-front and deep down. But it's that barely noticeable ocean swell of public opinion that quietly rides the horizon, until at the last moment it crashes hard on the shore rocks. It's at that moment when enough people come to the realization that enough is enough.

We in the Mat-Su should be the white foam on the crest of that crashing wave by now. Most of us realize that something is wrong with Alaska

politics.

It's not easy to brush this latest scandal off. The FBI investigation is serious stuff, and the political and corporate behavior that spawned these investigations are a serious threat to our form of government.

What really gets to me the most is the cult of personality the develops around certain celebrities, clergy and politicians who are in office long enough. Almost everyone agrees that something happens to elected officials fairly soon after they are elected. A change does happen. It's the exact opposite of the caterpillar turning into the butterfly.

At the same time, there is a certain segment of the population that becomes a fan of the celebrity or politician. It's that cult of personality thing again.

No matter what shortcoming, character flaw or outright criminal behavior befalls their leader, the devoted adherents will faithfully refuse to believe that any of it could be true. This type of blind support can defy all common sense and reason.

Hitler, Stalin, Amin and Hussein all had loyal followers to the end. Nothing could have broken the faith of their followers. Their crimes were incomprehensible, yet many supporters refused to see the light.

The situation is the same with wayward religious leaders. Didn't the reverends Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart and Ted Haggard have throngs of faithful defending them to the end?

And do I even have to mention all the politicians who have been caught in various scandals large and small?

Among the above mentioned, some have paid for their crimes with death, others asked for forgiveness from a higher power. It's only the politicians who will deny that they did anything wrong, period.

There must be something in the nature of human beings that allows for this denial. It, therefore, should be logical that the politician and their followers will be the last to admit any wrongdoing. Try to think of a politician who has ever been caught and said, “I did it.”

Wasilla, the time has come to stop denying that there is a problem in our state's political picture. No amount of pretending is going to correct matters. Sometimes, what we believe in our hearts is just plain wrong.

Pay attention to the facts in the upcoming months and make an informed decisions when the time comes. Quit giving our elected officials the benefit of the doubt. Ask tough questions and demand straight answers.

If we can't trust our elected officials to represent us, then it is our job as citizens to save our system of government before it's too late. Remove those from office who no longer deserve our trust. Many swindlers have to gain your confidence first. They are generally con men before they become convicts.

Good people do turn bad. It's happened since before recorded time. Stay tuned in, because there will be plenty to ponder in the near future.

I'll get off my porch for a while now.

Valley resident Myrl Thompson is a free-lance journalist and former independent candidate for state House in District 15. His “Capitol Watch” column appears here every two weeks. Contact him at myrl@alaska.net.