clues at the scene

clues at the scene

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Loaded Subject

Image of Huey Long from Time magazine for which they failed to renew the copyright. Public domain, now.

Thanks.

Huey Long.

You know about Huey?

"Share the Wealth" - a wealth redistribution system based on an asset tax. Of course, more than 60% of the population of the state lived below the poverty line and most had to walk a whole week just to get to it.

He created a proscription list of enemies in the public employ, fired them, and demanded that those allies he hired contribute a portion of their cash earnings to his re-election fund.

That was just the warm-up.

Here he is on the cover of Time.

Now, picking on political corruption in Louisiana is the social science equivalent of laughing at a disabled kid on the playground. It wasn't like he asked for extra personal challenge and picking on him is just mean.

However, taking a little bit of what we know about Louisiana politics and spreading it around?  It helps make a story interesting.

Corruption is interesting.

As she said: I like the bad boys.

Who gives a shit about an Eagle Scout who wins the county spelling bee.

Now, rig the contest. Ahhh.... we've got something.

So, just when you long for honest politicians as devoted public servants walking the straight and narrow, be grateful for the pile of horse droppings we've got.

There are two things in this world that'll do you wrong every time: an unloaded revolver and a smiling politician.

Don't keep either hanging about.

Unless you are writing crime, that is.

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