Defending Your Life

Well, defending his political life I suppose is what Herb Bergson is doing. This latest scandal being swept under the rug by so many well-meaning, foolish and ignorant Duluthians is just another in a long line of misdeeds by our current and infamously stupid Mayor.

There are some key points people of Duluth must come to grips with. The people Mayor Bergson gave those tickets to have a vote. Political survival for Mr. Bergson, if it is to be had, will require the greasing of many wheels and the burying of numerous skeletons. What better way to do it than with favors? The American Indian tribes in this region wield enormous power and influence and were recipients of his most recent largesse. Hell, he said it himself in that now published e-mail to Ken Beuhler, "relations are strained". So should Ken "suck up" so Herb can suck up? Well, why not if it results in political leverage for Herb?

People must understand that this is not about Herb being charitable, it is about graft and corruption and it runs very deep in Duluth. Herb is just the latest scumbag politician to succumb to the trance-like state those with political ambitions enter upon election to an important office.

How is Herb asking Ken for tickets or asking for tickets to bluesfest any different from him entering a local restaurant and pressuring the owner for some free meals for the homeless or pressuring a bar owner for a bottle of fine scotch for a drunk on First Street who is going through withdrawal? There is no difference, it is using a public position as influence to receive something of value from a constituent. Everyone in public service, from police to plow-drivers know this is a giant no-no and knows that receiving additional favors for any reason due solely to your position is against the law, against every ethical standard of his or her position and grounds for termination.

Why does Herb expect to be held to a lower standard? Because he is the Mayor Dammit! Well, is there a better reason? Charitable or not, as a former cop, if he sees this behavior as appropriate, one wonders what he may have thought was appropriate as a Police Officer. If being called for abusing his position is simply political opportunism by those criticizing his behavior, what then is the appropriate standard? These rules and ethics are in place for a multitude of reasons. Herb, as evidenced by his reaction to the DUI in Wisconsin while on city business, the release of a draft report to the Publisher of the News Tribune while acting in his official capacity as Mayor and now the ticket scandal orchestrated while acting in his official capacity as Mayor and not being the least bit shy about using his elected position for influence, demonstrates a sort of socio-pathic type behavior. In his mind, breaking the rules and laws is OK unless you get caught, then the only bad people in your life are those who caught you.

This latest scandal and Herb's reaction to it is demonstrative of his disdain for rules and ethics, his obvious superiority complex and his delusional, grandiose sense of his own importance. He is not fit to serve in public office and must resign or be removed. On the other hand, it is not characteristic of a narcissist to look inward or do the right thing, only to lay blame, obfuscate the truth and attempt to deflect criticism to others. If you choose to defend Herb or turn a blind eye to his latest repugnant behavior, you promote and condone it. Will we as a community tell Herb it is OK steal from one to give to another? Is it OK for the Mayor to be Robin Hood? The answer lies in the answer to the question I have already posed, is it OK for the Mayor to use his position to further influence and bribe people into political favor? He is buying votes, bottom line, and that my friends is illegal.