Friday, January 5, 2007

Reality Check / Politics In Civilized Countries

In civilized countries, even the appearance of impropriety is enough to cost a public servant his position.

He doesn't have to be impeached. He doesn't even have to be indicted, let alone found guilty.

Case in point: N.S. cabinet minister resigns after accident allegations
Nova Scotia cabinet minister Ernie Fage has resigned amid allegations he left the scene of a car accident.

Premier Rodney MacDonald confirmed Thursday night that Fage had stepped down. His resignation comes as questions were being raised about his actions after two witnesses say he was driving a car that rear-ended another vehicle, left the scene before police arrived, and appeared to have been drinking.
Allegations!

King Chimpy kept his job today despite allegations he had been severely complicit in the unwarranted deaths of hundreds of thousands of people. Details at eleven.
MacDonald said Fage offered his resignation to him.

"Mr. Fage did not want this accident to be a distraction from his job or from the work of government, so he offered his resignation and I have accepted," he said in a statement.

Fage, minister of human resources, had admitted he was in a minor accident but said he reported it to police.
There's more, and the politician looks worse than his version of it, as usual, but that's not the point.

The point is: OOPS? You're gone!

That's how they do it in civilized countries.