Jaeborrie K. Ford

Dr. Codrina Cozma

World Literature

15 April 2009

Political Corruption

            The politics of today seem to use the term “by any means necessary” literally. Political corruption has become common place in society today. In the story, “Death Constant Beyond Love” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Senator Onesimo Sanchez embodies the political corruption of today. Firstly, corrupt politicians make many false campaign promises in order to gain the support of the people. Senator Onesimo Sanchez boldly proclaims the words “against all his convictions”.  He said:

“We are here for the purpose of defeating nature. We will no longer be the foundlings in         our own country, orphans of God in a realm of thirst and bad climate, exiles in our own land. We will be a different people, ladies and gentlemen; we will be a great and happy people “(Marquez 2353).

The senator purposely uses this rhetorical speech to motivate yet deceive the native crowd. He promises “rainmaking machines, portable breeders for table animals, and oils of happiness” (Marquez 2353). The aides of the senator set up a façade of a town filled with “make-believe” houses” covering the miserable shacks of the people in the city. The calculated techniques of these actions work as the senator continues with the unimaginable farce. The political strategy is genius yet demonstrates the heights and depths of political corruption. Relation to our world today? -10 Secondly, political corruption evolves the exchanging of favors or political bribes. Nelson Farina, presumably a criminal, persistently asks Senator Onesimo Sanchez for “help getting a false identity card which would place him beyond the reach of the law.” (Marquez 2354). Initially, the senator refuses to help Nelson with his request. Farina sends his young, beautiful, and voluptuous daughter in the night to the senator. The beautiful young woman entices the senator to grant her father’s request for a false identity in return she will give herself sexually unto to him. Senator Onesimo Sanchez is like the politicians today who cannot turn away from enticing bribes. Political corruption mostly all starts with the lure or taking of a bribe. The senator seems weak emotionally and is probably deprived sexually. There are not many men whom could resist the bribe of a beautiful woman. Lastly, most of all political corruption of today ends in some type of sexual scandal. Senator Onesimo Sanchez life expires with him “debased and repudiated because of the public scandal with Laura Farina” (Marquez 2357).  The public scandal is a sexual scandal caused by his lustful desires for a young beautiful woman. Politicians are frequently getting caught up in sexual scandals and are often exposed by their fellow participants. Senator Onesimo Sanchez could have easily avoided this scandal by just saying no to a criminal and no to adultery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 Quotes Containing Three Elements

            Firstly, all politicians lie or at least most people feel they do. These lies become particularly common every autumn as candidates promise just about anything to get elected. The “view of politicians as liars” is so “ubiquitous” that it has spawned a “positive theory of political deceit” (Rinquist 1).  “Politicians face terrific incentives to lie”, especially about their opponents to attempt bring value to their reputations.” This skepticism regarding the truthfulness of candidates for political office comes as no surprise to anyone with even a casual knowledge of politics in the United States” (Rinquinst 1).

            Secondly, “politics have become permanently linked with bribery” (Ornstein 17). The culture of Washington politics have grown wealthy and oblivious to bribery. Bribery has become legal by way of lobbyist. Current members of the Senate and Congress now receive hundreds of thousands of dollars to lobby on behalf of companies and outside causes. “For senior members of Congress, it is not easy to see one’s peers much less one’s former employees leave the Hill and make so much more money” (Ornstein 17).

Lastly, sexual scandal has become infamously linked with politicians and political corruption. One of the most known political scandals involved President Bill Clinton.”As urgently as we may want to forget to turn our attention away from images of Monica Lewinsky on her knees in the hallway of the Oval Office, it is worth considering at least for a moment, the ongoing consequences of this national erotic caper with regard to both broad based sexual culture and more specifically, to the role sex plays in national politics” (Dank 4). Sexual misconduct will always be linked with politics. In the past ten years comma so many men and women politicians have fallen victim to sexual scandal or misconduct.

 

Blago.jpg

 

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich impeached for attempting to sell Barack Obama’s senate seat.

Courtesy of N. Y. Daily News

 

 

 

 

Jim McGreevy.jpg

Former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevy (far left) resigned from office with the discovery of homosexual affair with his homeland security advisor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrzXLYA_e6E

 

 

Sarah Palin, need I say any more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annotated Bibliography

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. “Death Constant Beyond Love” The Norton Anthology: Western

            Literature. 8th Ed. Lawall, Sarah. New York: Norton & Company, 2006. 2352 – 2357.

 

Dank, Barry M. The Politics of Sexuality. New Brunswick, N.J. Transaction Publishing, 2000.

“A book speaking the sexual scandals of politicians and all the troubles that come along with it.” No quotes needed here!

Ornstein, Norman. ‘District Of Corruption.” Current (Mar. 2009); Academic

SearchComplete.  EBSCO. South Georgia College, Douglas, GA. 15 Apr. 2009

            “The article reflects on the increasing wealth and corruption in Washington, D. C.”

Rinquinst, Evan “Lies, Damned Lies, and Campaign Promises?” Current (Apr. 2009); Academic

            Search Complete. EBSCO. South Georgia College, Douglas, GA. 15 Apr. 2009

            “The article critically examines false campaign promises and there consequences.”