POLITICS' BIG MONEY, ETHICS ARE OBVIOUSLY INCOMPATIBLE

Dear Editor:

I am shocked by the volume of big money floating around
Wisconsin politics these days as well as the scandals and questionable
behavior that accompany it. Gov. Jim Doyle once served as the state
attorney general; now his actions are being investigated by the state
AG. Sens. Chuck Chvala and Gary George are in jail, and others have been
prosecuted.

Special interest groups have long influenced politics, but of late one
of the most dominant groups seems to be gambling interests. Should
anybody be surprised that with gambling comes scandal and ethics
questions? Gambling used to be illegal; now its interests have been
reported to have spent over a million dollars helping Doyle or other
politicians. No doubt, should prostitution or marijuana become legal,
politicians will line up to collect that money as well.

One should not expect ethical behavior from people who associate with
big money interests. In the short term, maybe we should only vote for
people who have a track record of avoiding big money and demonstrating
ethical conduct. In the long term, reform is needed.

Ideas supported by both parties include term limits and bans on
lobbying by former members of the Legislature. One important idea:
Forbid contributions while the budget is being debated. These
suspiciously timed "contributions" by big money "suggest" impropriety
and "suggest" voting for somebody else.

This voter will NOT be voting where the money is.

ANTHONY LIEBIG

Windsor