Washington leaders just looking out for themselves

It’s one thing to know our elected leaders are crooked. It’s another matter entirely when U.S. representatives, the Republicans in this case, meet to hold a private vote to dismantle the ethics committee and even try to make it possible for their actions in said committee not to be released to the media.

Paul Ryan, speaker of the House, to his credit was adamantly opposed to this flagrant thumbing of the U.S. House at all Americans from his fellow GOP cronies, but that was probably in the interest of saving his skin as much as wanting to be held accountable. We’ll take it by default if nothing else.

So, in a show of hands: Who out there still thinks our elected officials are out to serve us and care about what we think, especially Republicans. That was quick.

These snakes couldn’t even wait to start a new congressional term to try to cover their activities, and I’m pretty sure they didn’t intend to eviscerate the ethics committee because they were already so honest and accountable there simply was not need for such a committee.

One representative, Mark Sanford, R South Carolina, said “it probably wasn’t the way to start out.” I hereby nominate the good congressman for the first Congressional Keen Eye For The Obvious award. Not to mention he was under investigation a few years back by the same committee.

If we don’t hold politicians truly accountable and quit automatically sending very bad people to Washington, we’ll get what we deserve.

SCOTT HEDEGARD Fayetteville