AFS Cinema
Missing Proxmire
RECEIVED Mon., Dec. 19, 2005
Dear Editor,
The passing of William Proxmire, bestower of the Golden Fleece Awards, is cause to note the passing of a rarity: a politician who actually put the public's business to the forefront. Exposing and fighting corruption and bent on stopping the squandering of the public's funds on moronic pork-barrel projects. (He would have loved the much-maligned Alaskan bridges – to nowhere.)
Men like him have been replaced in today's world by hacks, yes-men, poltroons, and stealth-lobbyists whose loyalty is to their campaign donors only ... guys like Tom DeLay and Ted Stephens.
Proxmire made a lot of enemies, including many in his own party, but that is the mark of an icon, a maverick, who always did the right thing.
In his twilight, he left office after believing he correctly had Alzheimer's disease. He felt if he couldn't be 100%, he was letting down his constituency. (Proxmire at 10% of his mental faculties probably had much more going on upstairs than today's heads of mush in the electorate.)
I close, wishing we had more William Proxmires in our government.
We need them sorely.
The passing of William Proxmire, bestower of the Golden Fleece Awards, is cause to note the passing of a rarity: a politician who actually put the public's business to the forefront. Exposing and fighting corruption and bent on stopping the squandering of the public's funds on moronic pork-barrel projects. (He would have loved the much-maligned Alaskan bridges – to nowhere.)
Men like him have been replaced in today's world by hacks, yes-men, poltroons, and stealth-lobbyists whose loyalty is to their campaign donors only ... guys like Tom DeLay and Ted Stephens.
Proxmire made a lot of enemies, including many in his own party, but that is the mark of an icon, a maverick, who always did the right thing.
In his twilight, he left office after believing he correctly had Alzheimer's disease. He felt if he couldn't be 100%, he was letting down his constituency. (Proxmire at 10% of his mental faculties probably had much more going on upstairs than today's heads of mush in the electorate.)
I close, wishing we had more William Proxmires in our government.
We need them sorely.
Tim Abbott