Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Failing South-ward

I really like John Maxwell. For those of you who don't know him, he is a business writer akin to Harvey MacKay or John Wooden, but with a major emphasis on personal ethics and dignity. He literally wrote the book on modern business ethics, and I admire him for not being a part of the "greed is good" mentality that was birthed by his own generation.

in 2000, Mr. Maxwell wrote a book entitled Failing Forward, in which he emphasizes the importance of failures in the making of great personal and corporate success stories (If you missed it, check out J. K. Rowling's keynote address to Harvard this year on the same topic). In his book, Mr. Maxwell writes:

Every successful person is someone who failed, yet never regarded himself as a failure...I think it’s safe to say that all great achievers are given multiple reasons to believe they are failures. But in spite of that, they persevere. In the face of adversity, rejection, and failings, they continue believing in themselves and refuse to consider themselves failures.

It's a great concept and one that is certainly true of just about every great leader you can name. However (and this is my real point here), I'm not sure John Maxwell meant that convicted criminals should "try, try again" when they have freshly proven themselves irresponsible with public money, public trust, and political and administrative power.

Yes, it's true, ladies and gentleman of the slower counties, Mr. Tom Gordon of New Castle County has come to Dover. If you don't remember, Mr. Gordon was indicted on federal corruption charges stemming from his activities while County Executive in New Castle County. After a lengthy and expensive legal process (thanks NCC taxpayers) he eventually pleaded guilty only to lying on his taxes. Now, based on information here, Mr. Gordon has been hired as a leader in the new office of the State Insurance Commissioner, ironically heading-up the office's FRAUD unit!!! Is this a joke? Ok, ok, you got me. Now where's that hidden camera?

No? No joke. Ok, then, the rant continues...

Gordon's campaign manager actually said, "He made a mistake in the past, it was a misdemeanor. There comes a point when you just have to let go." Wait just a cotton-picking minute here. Let's be clear and have some facts out: He was convicted of a misdemeanor, but he was indicted for activities entirely more heinous. These activities included criminal racketeering and mail fraud, including forcing county employees to work on political activities. County police officers were allegedly even forced to drive pro-Gordon voters to the polls. Spin much, Ms. Campaign Manager?

So, now this mess has crept out of the north and right up into the laps of all of us Delawareans. I guess the old saying is true, crap does roll downhill.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Amen, brother! Delawareans should be outraged.