California Jobs Go To Those With Connections

Some California lawmakers may be suspect in their hiring practices and some of those jobs may not require much work despite the highest rate of unemployment in California since 1983.

A Los Angeles Times article, dated March 27, 2009, cited Yolie Flores Aguilar as one of many examples. Aguilar, a longtime friend and political ally of some powerful California Democrats, earned $32,000 a year as a consultant assigned to a state Senate committee that, during her tenure, did not meet or release any reports.

Fabian Wesson, gets paid as a political consultant, first landed on the Assembly payroll after her husband, Los Angeles City Councilman Herb Wesson, a former Assembly speaker, was criticized for providing legislative consulting jobs to political allies.

Marisela Villar, daughter of L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, earns $68,000 a year as a field representative for Democrats. Villar was hired by one of her fathers friends, then-Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez.

Gil Cedillo Jr., son of state Sen. Gill Cedillo, earns $80,900 as a district coordinator for state Sen. Ron Calderon.

This article shouldn't be a surprise for those with work-place experience. Many times those who get gravy jobs or promotions do so based more on politics than on ability.

Should we expect character in hiring by politicians?

Road Rage Sparked By Black South African Taxi Drivers-LA Times 3-25-09

Road-warrior taxi drivers in South Africa are engaged in battle for dominance against a government proposed public bus system system and the 2010 soccer World Cup is at stake.

Taxis transport daily millions of black commuters.  Their commando tactics of driving in the wrong lanes, ignoring red lights and playing chicken with other cars has caused a backlash of fury among citizens.  The absence of apartheid makes a government-sponsored public system possible.

The fight between taxi drivers and the government for jobs and independence versus safety and reliability bring questions of right and wrong.

The Democratic Alliance, an opposition party, said taxi drivers have to accept competition.  Independent transportation analyst Paul Browning said in a phone interview that the public system would benefit South Africa but should be phased in more gradually.

Can South African black taxi drivers demand job security, drive recklessly, endanger lives, and stage shut-downs and expect to stop a public transportation system?  Are they relying on post-apartheid sympathy?

Is this character?

Is character dead?  No, I don't mean a cartoon character.  I mean real character.  It's who you are when the lights are out and no one's looking.  Would you steal?  Would you lie?  Are you lustful, selfish and/or completely self-centered?  Great!  You'll get media coverage.

Lack of character is popular in the dead of daylight.  Media thrives on lack of character and bad behavior.  You too can be an overnight darling.  Simply do something outrageous.  

Nadia gave birth to eight children knowing there was no father or money for them.  AIG slipped and got bailed out because they are a "megaglomerate."  Bad girls videotape their intimate moments and  display their nether regions with abandon.  It's slowly becoming manly to rearrange others epidermis on something as innocent as relocating car keys.

Everyone's interested but is anyone protesting?  I am.  I'm coming from "over there."  I'm going "Martin Luther King" and taking a look at the content of the character in people in the news.  

Follow me and let me know if you agree or disagree.  We're all one people and one planet.  When one goes down we all fall a little.