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The corporate scandals of the last two years have shown us that we need to bring a new standard of openness to government and to business. I believe Wes Clark will play it straight with the American people. The Bush administration has put the fox in charge of the hen house time and again, placing former industry advocates in charge of the very government organizations that should be policing them. We have seen the results of such cronyism: the average working American loses, the average retiree loses, the environment loses, the average investor loses. We need a leader who will stand up for our interests and not the special interests. I think Wes Clark is that leader.

Wesley Clark#46

PoliticsEthicsBusinessCorruptionOpennessRegulationTransparency

About this quote

What does it mean?
Corporate scandals show a need for openness in government and business, criticizing the Bush administration for placing industry advocates in charge of regulators.
In plain terms
Scandals prove we need openness because putting industry insiders in charge of regulators hurts average people.
What can you take from it?
Oppose cronyism and advocate for regulatory independence.

Where it applies

  • government oversight
  • business ethics

Putting it to work

  • demand transparency in government appointments

Questions to consider

  • Who should regulate industries?
  • How can we prevent conflicts of interest?

Another view

The speaker attributes all losses to cronyism without providing specific evidence for every case.

More from Wesley Clark

  1. The mark of leadership is not to stand up when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing.

    Permalink to quote #45
  2. I asked a whole lot of my friends who were generals and colonels and majors, who served over General Clark and under General Clark and every last one of them s…

    Permalink to quote #47
  3. Wes Clark has been a superb battalion commander and will be a superb brigade commander. He is an officer of the rarest potential and will clearly rise to senio…

    Permalink to quote #44

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