As the producers develop the ongoing series, “A County Corrupted,” several themes are emerging. 

   One of the most prominent is that a lot of people in this county seem to believe that all is fair in business -- as long as the dollars keep flowing in a positive direction. Another recurring message is that many folks just don’t care much if local government is sprinkled with as many bad apples as good.

   I was taught as a young reporter that tax dollars entrusted to a public servant were different from the greenbacks in my wallet. In fact, the law generally recognizes that crimes involving tax money should be be treated with an additional measure of severity. 

   Where has that concept gone? Unless my perception has completely eroded, tax funds have evolved from sacrosanct, into a huge and safe source of personal enrichment for unscrupulous public officials.

   What is even more disturbing is that people who raise the issue of improper conduct by some officials are ignored or even shouted down. Reputations of whistle-blowers are often attacked. In fact, just the term “whistle-blower” earns derision from many.

   It’s bad enough that local news outlets fail to investigate community issues of any significance. But so much of our media today allows, exacerbates, and even encourages public money collusion by the depth and tone of its “reporting.” There exists a fetid atmosphere in which chicanery prospers, and civic responsibility -- real responsibility -- is shunned, all in favor of an illusory picture of social tranquillity. 

   So when some joker receives community honors not for the genuinely positive efforts he has contributed, but rather for the quantity of financial largess he has bestowed, it is easy for some to overlook his obvious failings.

   Reporters and editors should not be among the cheerleaders. 

Posted February 6, 2011