At some point in the future of human-kind, scientists may invent a device to look inside the human heart; not from the point-of-view of anatomy and physiology, but the deepest, heart-felt emotions. Until then, I must rely on what people say – and the actions they take, as an indicator of who they are. For me, 
it runs double for politicians; the people I elect to represent me. The good news is that in many cases, the people we see before the election are pretty much who we get.
I need to make it clear that I am not talking about a platform i.e., Progressive, Conservative, Moderate, so much as suspected criminal behavior, unethical business judgment – that kind of stuff.
On April 13, 2014, Frazier Glenn Miller, a 73 year-old who lived outside the town of Marionville, Missouri, and an avowed white supremacist, shot and killed three people whom he believed were Jewish. Two of the people were outside a Jewish Community Center and the third was going to visit her father in a Jewish-run nursing home. As the police arrested Miller, he was shouting “Heil Hitler!”
The killings were tragic and pointless beyond words.
However, another aspect of the insanity of this case surfaced shortly after the murders; comments made by Marionville’s Mayor, Mayor Dan Clevenger. In his statements, Clevenger actually supported Miller.
According to an article by Steve Pokin for the Springfield News Leader (April 21, 2014), Clevenger publicly stated to the newspaper:
“The futures market, the Federal Reserve, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health — every time I see that on the news, there are Jewish names and they run things.”
This is not the first time Clevenger has made such statements. Indeed, 10 years ago, Clevenger wrote a letter to the editor of the Aurora Advertiser in support of Miller’s views:
“I am a friend of Frazier Miller helping to spread his warnings. The Jew-run medical industry has succeeded in destroying the United State’s [sic] workforce. The Jew-run government backed banking industry turned the U.S into the world’s largest debtor nation.”
Exit Clevenger, But Who Remains?
A few days ago, the Aldermen of the town of Marionville (Population 2,000) voted to impeach Mayor Clevenger by a 4-1 margin for his blatantly anti-Semitic statements. Clevenger decided to resign. I might add that before Clevenger was elected mayor, he was a town alderman.
What this means for me is that for at least 10 years, many of the good citizens of Marionville and friends of White Supremacist Miller and White Supremacist Clevenger, knew exactly who these clowns were. So then, why elect him mayor? Perhaps it was because no one cared who they elected. Perhaps it was because everyone voting assumed “the other guy” did the proper due diligence.
It is easy to throw stones at Marionville; I won’t join the party. I will instead observe that in my speaking and consulting I have witnessed dozens of places elect inept, crooked and unethical politicians.
We get exactly what we vote for and in some cases, the racist, anti-Semite mayor of today, was well-known as a racist, anti-Semite citizen 10 years ago.
When we elect officials to public office, how well do we know them ethically? Do we know what they stand for? Have we done our due-diligence? Are we getting the same person we voted for? Are we, in a sense, more ethically culpable than the clowns we sometimes elect?
There is an awful lot of politically correct posturing in tiny Marionville these days. Sorry, but they are 10 years too late.
It is said that Clevenger cannot understand why people are upset with him. It is 2014, that’s why, Clevenger. However, I will admit that for at least 10 years at least some of the citizens of Marionville winked every time they passed you on the street.
Ethical training at the local level on up, has never been more important than it is now.
YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!