Posted on 04/18/2008 2:09:29 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
WASHINGTON -- The FBI is grappling with growing numbers of public corruption cases and a surge in mortgage fraud investigations, FBI Director Robert Mueller said Thursday, wondering aloud whether Americans are "becoming more crooked."
In a speech to the American Bar Association, Mueller asked the assembled defense lawyers for help in "creating a culture of integrity" by reporting evidence of wrongdoing by politicians and corporate executives alike.
"Anyone who follows the news these days and sees repeated references to corporate fraud and public corruption might think the nation is in the midst of a moral crisis," Mueller told the defense attorneys. "Have we as a society become more corrupt? Or have we in the FBI simply become more adept at rooting out fraud and corruption?"
Currently, the FBI has 2,500 cases of public corruption under investigation, an increase of 50 percent from five years ago, Mueller said. He called public corruption the FBI's top criminal priority.
At the same time, corporate fraud cases have increased by more than 80 percent, Mueller said, pointing to the recent surge in mortgage fraud investigations. The FBI is investigating an estimated 1,300 mortgage fraud cases - including 19 into subprime lending practices by U.S. financial institutions.
In his speech, titled "Corporate Fraud and Public Corruption: Are We Becoming More Crooked?" Mueller predicted that the surge is far from over.
"We likely will see more corporate fraud cases in the months to come, because of the ripple effect of the subprime crisis and its impact on the credit market," he said.
During a question-and-answer session after the speech, Mueller said he favored Justice Department policy crediting firms that voluntarily waive their right to withhold confidential communications between attorneys and their corporate clients during investigations.
The ABA opposes the policy, which Congress is considering overturning.
Or both?
I can believe it. Just part of Our Bill’s legacy. Rules are for suckers. Shamelessness wins. Everybody does it.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Or has society's sensitivity to corruption increased to an unreasonable level? Or how about, too many laws causes moral breakdown?
Yes, Mr. FBI man, people are just taking cues from our politicians. Who’s “crooked”? Go to Washington D.C. and then report to us, your employer.
Well, when the president of the US suborns perjury and commits other crimes while in office and gets away with no jail time, what does the FBI expect?
Laughable...we are all Felons of some sort because of the ignorant politicians passing all of their stupid laws, from the Federal level, to the state, county and cities.
Amazing how some of these laws work. It is illegal for you to lie to an FBI agent, but perfectly lawful for them to lie to you to get you to commit a crime..utter bullshit.
“I can believe it. Just part of Our Bill’s legacy. Rules are for suckers. Shamelessness wins. Everybody does it.”
You mean the same Bill Clinton who will be remembered for making 12 year olds wonder what oral sex is about?
Bush’s fault.
Hmmm...The Senate tried twice last Summer to ram an amnesty for illegal aliens down the throats of Americans with the blessing of the President. Not only would it have granted amnesty, as it was written it would have freed those granted from the onus of having to pay back taxes and penalties, from penalties and prosecution for stealing someone else's identity, given amnesty to gang bangers, and also given an amnesty to business owners who profited by hiring illegal help.
IOW, the Federales, including our "conservative" president, were telling everyone who'd obeyed the law that they were chumps and if you were powerful enough, you the law didn't apply to you.
Ramos and Compean rot in jail because they tried to enforce the law while Johnny Sutton takes the word of a drug smuggler.
So, is there a culture of lawlessness metastasizing through the country? I can't say for sure. But, if there is the perps most responsible for it live and work in Washington.
The corruptness of our politicians in past 10-15 yrs has set the example that lying, stealing and being immoral is perfectly okay. We do not have heros, leaders or persons of integrity running our government. We have and have had Gore’s, Pelosi’s, Spitzers, and Ted Kennedy’s. Liars, Traitors, Perverts, and Murderers are setting the bar for what is and is not acceptable. And so I am not misunderstood, it isn’t President Bush I am talking about, because I believe in end he will be proven correct in most of his decisions.
Yes, in this country I have seen so many more white collar criminals, deception in relationships, and just plain greed in business and positions of authority. It is a product of the hedonistic culture, and “stripping” God from schools and every aspect of life they can get their hands on. Noone is perfect, expecially me, but I think if you place yourself in a position as a leader or representative of the people, then you should have integrity, honesty and truthfulness.
“There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws.”
— Ayn Rand, “Atlas Shrugged”
He asked the BAR ASS’ns help in creating a culture of integrity??? Did he really do that???
“When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.” Ecclesiastes 8:11 (NIV)
People don’t see consequences for actions or have had consequences removed, so they find no reason not to engage in the actions. Here is your result.
Another one of my favorite quotes.
Exactly!
And at the same time, the frustration level rises when we are told that a congress critter with $90,000 in his freezer is not punishable. Or that a senator who walked off and left a woman to die submerged in his car is somehow not a big deal. Or that an intern...
I believe the answer is a resounding YES. There is a very good reason for it....liberalism.
When a political party attempts, for years and years, to convince the public that elections are fixed, BIG corporations are trying to screw you, the rich are too rich, racism is rampant, we go to war for only oil, our government blew up the world trade towers, we rob the poor to pay the rich, (fill in the bank), is it any wonder that people are trying to get “theirs” the same way.
I have been working on a essay that makes this very case. When the Democrats complete their destruction of our traditions, institutions, and economic system, they will have finally won. The problem for them is their will be no country left to govern.
There is nothing more important to the well being of our republic than its citizenry operating on the basis of truth. Civilized societies require truth to survive. When truth is malleable, and can be easily discarded when it collides with a preconceived notion, precept, or cause, then anarchy will surely follow. Resentment, hatred, and racism all spring from a basic lack of fairness, and a lack of fairness is the most common manifestation of the absence of truth. Without truth there can be no peace,Human Nature will absolutely guarantee it.
The Democrat party can only prosper in the absence of truth. To that end, we have seen the truth become whatever supports the left’s position. As the media becomes more corrupt and even less truthful, America will become even more balkanized and restive. We are on the road to revolution and the “corruption” described in this article is only a sign of much more difficult things to come.
PF
My sons, whose ages are 20 and 24, have friends who seemingly have no moral standards whatsoever. Thankfully my sons seem to be different from their friends, but they have had friends and girlfriends that have, routinely and without thought, stolen from them, not to mention other horrible behavior. I am a banker and, because of their lack of moral direction, there is a very high probability that a young male will try to avoid paying up on their obligations. They treat others like they are worthless and have no respect for the property and well-being of others around them. Property insurance has become absurdly expensive and claim settlement difficult in many cases all because of the pervasive dishonesty in our society. Somebody’s word means nothing anymore.
We are from a southern, Christian and conservative locale. I am afraid we are in for more and more appalling displays of reprehensible behavior in this country. Makes me sick what the opponents of morality and Judeo-Christian principles have done to this country. I am old-school and believe in honesty and integrity. Unfortunately, there are few people in this world that I trust anymore.
The more laws and order are made prominent,
The more thieves and robbers there will be.
Lao-tzu
Nothing new under the sun here.
You're not alone seeing this.
If you read about politics in earlier days, I would say that the answer is “No.”
Corruption is part of human nature after the Fall. Decent people and religious people try to do better, but politics tends to draw the corrupt and greedy as well as a few idealists and genuine public servants.
That’s why our Constitution has checks and balances. The Founders hoped for virtuous men in office, but they allowed for what usually happens even in the best of states.
No Mr. Mueller, its just that when you look around at your federal government colleagues it just seems that way.
Took the words right out of my head. It's too many laws that's the problem.
Can I answer this?
Yes. As people lose jobs due to off shoring, the free trade farce, as the prices of everything go up, as millions of illegals drive the wages down, there will only be more of this.
However, that being said, many of those in government, at all levels are corrupt and crooked, and this trend is expanding or growing.
Few if anyone trusts government any longer, and many times it's for good reason.
“Anyone who follows the news these days and sees repeated references to corporate fraud and public corruption might think the nation is in the midst of a moral crisis,” Mueller told the defense...
++++++++++++++++++++
“might”? (LOL)
I don’t know why the FBI is surprised. Since illegal aliens, their employers and their political enablers all believe that the Rule of Law is completely and totally worthless, what encouragement is there to obey the law?
Hell, if this keeps up I’m going to start picking and choosing which laws I will ignore.
You said it more concisely than my favorite writer.
In politics, business and in just living a normal life, dishonesty appears to be an acceptable way to live one’s life. What caused shame, dishonor and disrespect in my day appears to be perfectly acceptable today. Why? It’s being proven day after day that it pays off in our culture.
You’re blaming it all on Bill Clinton. You could just as easily blame it on Richard Nixon, the 60s sexual and drug revolutions, the Enron scandal... It’s has a multitude of causes.
I attended a conference this week and talked to a president of a small bank in Pennsylvania. he told me about a new scam based in South Africa where the crooks have gotten hold of the banks’ ABA routing numbers and account numbers and start calling people trying to get them to obtain cashiers’ checks and then wire money to different places. The accunt holder gets paid $200 for the help and the bank is out $4700. This banker said he has been amazed at how many people have gone along with this scam, even after being told it is a fraud and illegal, just to get $200. His small bank alone has been hit with a million dollars in fraudulent cashier’s checks.
When there are so many laws that no matter what you do or what one’s intent is ... you still break the law .. one begins to lose respect for it
How about 8 years of unfettered illegal immigration?
How about 40 years of unfettered vote fraud in our cities, like Philadelphia?
I wonder how many FBI agents in major metropolitan areas did the liar loan gig this last housing cycle?
Bill Clinton was of the 60 sexual and drug revolutions, more so than Nixon ever was. Bill smoked, at least I can’t imagine Nixon smoking a joint. Nixon had the respect to step down, Bill stayed in office, lied under oath, and gave us the best free porn via Ken Starr that I have read in a long time.
Here in Los Angeles, if you live by the rules, you will be out of business. Hire illegals, don’t buy Workers Comp, pay below minimum wage, bribe city officials, get paid in cash, hide your income, cover up safety violations and you’ll do just fine.
If you get into trouble you can always move back to Mexico.
> My sons, whose ages are 20 and 24, have friends
> who seemingly have no moral standards whatsoever.
1Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Your sons really need some new friends.
I have been working on a essay that makes this very case. When the Democrats complete their destruction of our traditions, institutions, and economic system, they will have finally won. The problem for them is their will be no country left to govern.
...
The Democrat party can only prosper in the absence of truth. To that end, we have seen the truth become whatever supports the left’s position. As the media becomes more corrupt and even less truthful, America will become even more balkanized and restive. We are on the road to revolution and the “corruption” described in this article is only a sign of much more difficult things to come.
PF
While you are correct about the democrat party, the democrat-lite party's response to the problem has been its own inexorably leftward slither, which is why so many of us who had supported the GOP for so many years are now crying, "A plague on both your houses!".
Yet, the public being able to witness its country's leaders (of both parties) undermining the rule of law they'd sworn to uphold is a fairly recent phenomenon.
I don’t know. Are today’s politicians worse than Boss Tweed or Mayor Curley, or Mayor Daley the father of the current mayor, or Huey Long?
Those “friends” are no longer friends. They have learned some valuable life lessons.
Arrowhead>>>----government abuse--->
The three aforementioned politico's stand out for egrigious corruption...but the big difference (for everything) is that with mass communications it's become harder to keep corruption hidden.
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