CultureSpeak: Monetize

Cultural context:  The term used to describe Illinois Governor Blagojevich’s goal in engaging in on-going illegal activities for which he was arrested on federal corruption charges on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office official press release about the arrest.

I’ve really only seen the term “monetize” applied to blogging, meaning to find ways for your blog generate income.  I’d never seen it applied to relationships as described in the press release: 

“…Blagojevich and others discussed various ways Blagojevich could monetize the relationships he has made as governor to make money after leaving that office.” 

But, I guess I’m lacking a frame of reference since I try to build my relationships based on something other than how people can be encouraged to give me money–a practice apparently foreign in the Illinois Governor’s office.

The press release, posted on FoxNews.com, describes in detail some of the activities of Blagojevich and his staff to garner financial rewards for the Governor and his wife in exchange for various political favors and/or government appointments.  The key appointment brought to light in the indictment is the vacant Senate seat of President-Elect Obama.  Particularly interesting (self-interesting I should say) were the accounts of conversations in which Gov. Blagojevich discussed the possible appointment of himself to the Senate seat.  Apparently he felt that a sitting Senator could command a few more bucks than a sitting Governor.  It was also interesting to see that he also felt the Senate seat could put him in position for a possible 2016 run for president (where, no doubt, he would search for ways to monetize his new-found relationships with terror states and dictatorships) He also expressed his “frustration at being stuck as governor.”  I’d be willing to bet that he was not half as frustrated as the voters of Illinois are today at being “stuck” with him.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office release eloquently (and disturbingly) emphasized that evidence shows Governor Blagojevich sought to “put a for sale sign on the naming of a United State Senator.”  The release states that “Blagojevich analogized his situation to that of a sports agent shopping a potential free agent to the highest bidder.”  Sadly, I’m sure there were some standing in line with cash in hand to buy whatever Mr. Blagojevich had to offer.  I am appalled and baffled at the sheer arrogance revealed in the conversation transcripts presented with the indictment.  Just what else are we willing to hang a “for sale” sign on?

A good name
The dignity of a Governor’s office
The trust of hard-working people
The pride of a job well and fairly done
The legitimacy of elections
The voice of the people
Upright morals
Integrity
Democracy

This whole situation is a complete and total mockery of the Illinois voters’ good will and of the concept of a representative goverment as a whole.  It reveals the self-interest rather than people-interest of the political system that made many of our earliest leaders despise the concept of career politicians.  It is a rare man who can maintain a selfless position in good conscience when faced with power and influence, and Mr. Blagojevich falls staggeringly short.

On another interesting note, I’m shaking my head that somewhere in Illinois some group of people is actually debating with a straight face whether it would be appropriate for Governor Blagojevich to resign.  And, that debate apparently has enough credence for President-Elect Obama to issue a statement calling for the Goveror’s resignation.  We can’t seem to see the common sense forest for the jurisprudence trees. 

Thankfully, it seems that despite some of the media’s best efforts, any “-gate” involving President-Elect Obama’s connection to the corruption is a non-story.  The wire taps apparently show that Obama aides made it clear the Governor would receive no more and no less than the president’s verbal appreciation for any consideration of Obama’s suggested appointees.  If there is a bright side to this debaucle, that’s it.  Although I did not support Obama during the election, now that he’s poised to take the oath, I want him to succeed for the sake of my family, for the sake of my country.  I hope that he will be able to begin his presidency unencumbered by this pitiful display of corruption and the media circus encircling it.