The truth lost: The problem with a government with no watchdog

There are new stories every day coming from the southern border of the United States.

Some say the numbers have been altered to make the Obama administration look less incompetent and to keep the public in the dark about the extent of the problem of illegal immigrants seeping across our borders.

And considering the shoddy job of transparency that the Obama administration has done over the last few years, yep, that is probably exactly what is happening.

But in discussing this fact, it brings up a sharp reminder of just how important it is to have someone watching any politician in general and a president in specific.

Openness does not come naturally to most politicians. And, in some cases, "coverup" is the first response to any controversy.

So it should surprise no one that there is a bit of dirt shoveling as the president's people try to manage this crisis.

But it is critical that we, as citizens who will suffer the consequences, ask ourselves what we are going to accept as fact and what we are going to demand in the form of proof.

Now, more than ever, it is critical to have someone watching -- especially if we want to hear the truth, and we want to save our country from even more political tomfoolery.

Published in Editorials on July 24, 2014 10:56 AM