NEW CASTLE —
There are a couple of pieces of good news regarding the Secret Service sex scandal.
The first is that an investigation has determined the women hired as prostitutes by Secret Service agents in Columbia apparently were just that.
Concerns had been raised that they might be spies for terror groups or drug cartels seeking access for an attack on President Obama during his visit to that country.
Second, Washington has refrained from trying to make this a political issue. At least there is recognition that the safety of the president and other top government officials is a bipartisan concern.
But beyond that, the reckless behavior reported in Columbia is deeply disturbing. And it has gotten the government’s attention. Heads have rolled and others may lose their jobs before it is all over. New rules have been instituted that demand Secret Service agents on assignment avoid drunkenness and debauchery.
It’s not unusual that individuals engaged in high-stress responsibilities would want to blow off some steam when they are not on duty. But the activities in Columbia — with indications similar circumstances have occurred elsewhere on foreign trips — involves more than a little steam.
The revelation that there was a widespread effort to recruit prostitutes for a party is deeply disturbing. The incident created an obvious security breach that is counter to everything the Secret Service stands for.
Significantly, this incident followed on the heels of another scandal involving the conduct of federal officials. Also being investigated are the spending habits of top personnel in the General Services Administration, with the holding of lavish conferences, including a gaudy affair in Las Vegas in 2010.
A report regarding that event has cost some GSA officials their jobs and has Congress asking lots of questions.
The two scandals have their obvious differences. But deep down, they reflect a problem common among those in authority: A sense of entitlement that simply does not exist.
Common sense, common ethics and a concern for institutional reputation should have stopped Secret Service agents from doing what they did in Columbia. These same qualities also should have told GSA officials that outrageous spending on events was contrary to the notion of public service.
Instead, at the GSA such spending seemed to be a joke.
The easy answer to all of this is better oversight. Improved mechanisms are needed to monitor spending and demand accountability.
However, rules are effective only so long as the people they apply to follow them. In the end, firing people becomes the last resort for ending a flawed sense of entitlement.
Editorials
Our Opinion: Secret Service scandal symbolizes breaches of public trust
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Our Opinion: Privatization of county jail is worthy of examination
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Our Opinion: We endorse candidates for New Castle board
The New Castle school district is often a study in contrasts. There are complaints about the district on everything from taxes to nepotism, from test scores to ethical slights. Yet at the same time, plenty of students within the district excel. It’s a tribute to the hard work of those students, their families and the educators who support them.
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Our Opinion: You should be frightened, outraged by IRS abuse of power
When people talk about government posing a threat to citizens, a common topic these days is unmanned drones. But a more credible threat may be the Internal Revenue Service. This agency, responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing related rules, has the ability to make life miserable for the average individual.
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Our Opinion: Our endorsements for City Council race
The city of New Castle needs help. Financially distressed and operating under Pennsylvania’s Act 47, New Castle must find ways to reverse its population loss and fiscal challenges.
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Our Opinion: Court frowns on gerrymandering, but only slightly
Pennsylvania legislators have received the green light to put their own political interests ahead of yours. That’s a key point in the latest Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling on legislative apportionment in the commonwealth.
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Our Opinion: Study says distracted driving deaths are under reported
Suppose you operated a piece of heavy machinery at your job. And suppose it’s machinery that moves quickly with little effort. What would happen if you decided to take one hand off that equipment — while it was still in motion — and instead focused your attention on a telephone call?
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Our Opinion: Senate seeks to give states more taxing power
Congress is taking a stab at tax fairness. At least, where states are concerned. If you’re looking for meaningful reform of the federal tax code, that’s going to have to wait.
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Our Opinion: Look at handling of bombing suspects is warranted
We welcome an investigation into the handling of intelligence related to suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing. That probe may reveal little of value.
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Our Opinion: Right to know reveals intermediate unit problem
At this point, we have few details regarding the resignation of the director of this region’s intermediate unit. Apparently, there was a problem with purchases Cecelia H. Yauger made with a government credit card through the state agency that provides support services to area school districts.
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Our Opinion: New wave of ethics initiatives arrives in Harrisburg
There may be hope yet for Harrisburg. Recent signs suggest that even lawmakers are grasping that the ethics situation in the state capital is taking its toll. Maybe they are hearing from constituents who are fed up with the commonwealth’s seemingly endless string of scandals.
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