It's Just Business.....

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OMG! Have you seen the news about the crime ring in New Jersey? Here is the story MSNBC has put out:

NEWARK, N.J. - The mayors of two New Jersey cities and a state legislator were arrested Thursday in connection with a major corruption and international money-laundering conspiracy probe.

Among the approximately 30 people arrested were Hoboken Mayor Peter Cammarano, who took office 23 days ago, Secaucus Mayor Dennis Elwell, state Assemblyman Daniel Van Pelt and Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Newark.

Several rabbis in New York and New Jersey were also taken into custody, federal prosecutors said.

On one hand I'm shocked that this was going on, unfortunately on the other hand it seems that corruption among our politicians and religious leaders is becoming more and more common. What has happened to the values and integrity that we believed was such an integral part of these people's character? Has our society declined to the point of "it's all about me" mentalities? Most of us would like to think we have integrity and high morale's and values; at least in comparison to organized crime. Most of us wouldn't never even consider taking money obtained illegally. Or that is at least what we would like to think.

With the economy in such dire straights and no real assurances that it is going to improve anytime soon, perhaps the easy money is just to tempting. I am not sure where I would draw the line on ethics when it comes to money right now. If someone offered me say $1000.00 to spy on a spouse and report back, I might very well do it, especially if I didn't have any kind of friendship or history of the person I'm spying on. On the other hand if one of my boys or God forbid my grandson needed an organ in order to continue to live and I was given the option of buying one on the black market and not have to wait and take our chances, I would probably sell whatever I needed to buy that organ. In these two scenario's, the spying is probably more ethical or at least legal. But the buying of an organ is maybe more understandable.

These guys were selling organs and body parts to the top bidders. People who either felt they were out of time or they just didn't want to take the chance on waiting. Hard to judge the people who spent their money for this but easy to look down on the people who profited from this, unless you are the Dr. and you know the patient in front of you has little chance of surviving with out buying the needed organ. I guess it's just business........... I'm Dad--and I'm just saying.