What can I say? There is no way to skip Rod Blagojevich in a weekly post called Quotable Quotes.

But I found a couple of others that add a lot to the picture.

“I appreciate anybody who wants to tape me openly and notoriously, and those who feel like they want to sneakily and wear taping devices, I would remind them that it kind of smells like Nixon and Watergate.” (Interesting choice to link himself to considering…)

“When the President does it, that means that it is not illegal.” –Richard Nixon (Sense a connection?.)

(Soul mates. Sweet…)

“You want to know my philosophy? One day a peacock. The next day a feather duster.” –Pat Quinn, Illinois Governor (Wow! Do you think he’s authentic?)

Your comments—priceless

Don’t miss a post, subscribe via RSS or EMAIL

Image credit: Chicago Tribune

The level of accountability finger-pointing in the fiscal world accelerated steeply with the crash of the giant, 20 year-old Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Bernard Madoff. Financial experts are seeking to lay the blame/responsibility for this current financial crisis on regulators, but, as with derivatives, there were warning signs that could—should—have been read by the financially savvy.

Unlike other Wall Street wizards, it is almost certain that Madoff will be jailed, but most will walk away to plum new jobs far richer than they were and accelerate their status as role models to our youth.

Excuses will be made for them; those embarrassed by association will seek to bury their deeds in oblivion, and in a few short years people will forget.

And it gets more blatant with each passing year; witness Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich alleged effort to sell Obama’s Senate seat.

Danny Schechter discusses the acceleration in a fascinating Media Channel column.

“The latest cases are staggering in their audacity in a corporate culture where an illegal act becomes a crime only when you get caught.”

In a recent TV show, the lead character comments, “It’s counter-productive to raise children in a world without consequences,” yet that is what we’re doing.

Kids see that lack of consequences in politics, business, athletics and religion throughout the media and much closer to home in their own lives.

Little by little those charged with educating kids are eliminating accountability, often at the instigation of the parents. If kids complain that a teacher is too tough the solution is to fire the teacher, rather than doing their job as a parent by setting boundaries and standards and then making sure kids are held accountable.

Your comments—priceless

Don’t miss a post, subscribe via RSS or EMAIL

Image credit: flickr