Where is our moral compass?

Another sex scandal and another democratic politician holding his head low in shame. If you have not heard, the governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer, was caught playing an active role in a prostitution ring. Gov. Spitzer has sent out his apologies and turned in his resignation.

Spitzer isn’t sorry for his actions, he is sorry for getting caught and having to deal with the consequences. It is just as a child would apologize for pulling the dog’s tail or stealing a cookie. The child isn’t sad he or she did it; the child is merely sad at getting in trouble.

This leaves a question of morality hanging overhead. Does the idea of being morally strong still play a role in society? Or in politics?

First, President Bill Clinton debases the Oval Office with cigars and interns. Now we are looking at a governor who plays with prostitutes in New York. The Democratic Party is on a roll.

These men are a few of many—some have had better luck and some just don’t get caught. This brings forth so much shame in our political process. The politicians who go through with these acts are the same people who vote on bills that deal with issues like abortion and genocide. If they can’t work their moral compasses within their own lives, how can they make it work for the rest of the nation?

The life of parties and loose women may be fine for some, like a college frat boy, but how can we trust the politicians who lead our country if their own families can’t trust them? Spitzer’s wife now has to face the fact that her husband cheated on her, and the voters of New York have to realize the governor they elected could not stand true to vows he made with his wife, and in turn, can doubt the vows he made to his country.

The arguments for leniency with this incident are weak at best. One argument being that this behavior isn’t as uncommon as one would think. Well, first of all, it should be. And if it isn’t uncommon, then people should be concerned. I mean, this man sent for a prostitute to come to Washington, D.C., while he was working on a subcommittee. This is absolutely ridiculous.

Society accepts adultery, and corruption is the norm today. These are things to complain about and soon after push aside. I can’t tell whether society or politicians are to blame. But maybe if we didn’t have such liberal views on life, then our country’s moral compass would soon point us in the right direction.

People in the past stayed together through thick and thin. Divorce was a rare and unaccepted idea. Kids got spanked when they were bad. It taught them that doing things they weren’t supposed to do had consequences. Now child services will be at your door if you whack your kid’s butt, and your child will end up a lost soul in the clutches of our government’s child services system.

With a more conservative stance of raising families and living life, people might again see adultery as a moral indictment instead of a “mistake.” People make mistakes, yes, like wearing two different socks. Cheating on your wife is not a mistake.

Spitzer’s actions were irresponsible and detrimental to our country. Politicians should be role models in society—people who others can look up to and have respect for. With the lack of morals and ethics today, politicians have become something for people to mock and laugh at or cheer on for their latest “accomplishment.”