Ever since Eve conned Adam into taking a bite out of that apple, the governments of the world have been troubled by corruption of one kind or another.

My personal favorite was when our legislature in Washington decided they needed their own bank so they could deposit their checks and borrow money if needed, and also have their own post office, to more easily handle their rather expensive “franking” privileges, (stamps, etc). Shortly it was learned they were buying stamps via their franking accounts, then returning the stamps to their post office for a cash rebate, and pocketing the money. As you have already guessed, the loans and checking accounts at “their” bank were also going unpaid and overdrawn.

Luckily for you and me, our forefathers set up our republic with a constitution that allowed us to correct errant elected officials through an election system. Out with the old and in with the new. The good news is although it’s often slow in correcting our mistakes at the polls, the system is working.

While our mayor might not be the first to sully and cheapen his office, he stands pretty high on the list by leaving us to handle a million-dollar lawsuit. But even the little stuff can be handled in the next election.

For instance, while the Washington Legislature Post Office scandal was for big bucks, we have Warren County District 3 Supervisor Charles Selmon, trying to correct what he calls “problems and mistakes” with a $40 check. Like too many politicians before him, he thought the office he held was “his” office, and not the people’s. And he thought it was “his” stationary and “his” postage, instead of belonging to the people who paid for it. People with his mindset should never be elected to a position that requires honesty and integrity.

So, for this and future elections, our duty as Vicksburg residents is clear, politics must be cleaned up as our forefathers intended. An awful lot needs to be cleaned up in this election!

Al Lundin

Vicksburg