Nagin's shame: Former New Orleans mayor's arrogance a warning sign

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is going to jail.

In case the name does not ring a bell, Nagin is the man who so badly mishandled the New Orleans evacuation in the face of Hurricane Katrina. He and then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco then blamed the Bush administration, claiming officials in Washington caused hundreds of deaths.

Now we find out Nagin has been stealing -- for years -- taking bribes and kickbacks while residents struggled to get back on their feet and as he enjoyed celebrity status for his race baiting over the response to Hurricane Katrina.

And what makes his actions even more disgusting is that he campaigned on a pledge to clean up the corruption in the city.

Want to know why we need watchdogs -- and unbiased ones at that? Want to know why we should be leery when a politician seems to ignore the rule of law?

There you have it.

And Nagin is not the only example. Greed and corruption have led to the virtual destruction of the city of Detroit, too.

It is critical that this nation keep its eyes wide open for signs of politicians who have forgotten why they were elected in the first place -- and those that are just plain crooks. We need to question, to investigate and to watch for signs of overreach.

And sad to say, there are plenty of politicians out there who need watching.

Published in Editorials on February 14, 2014 10:40 AM