Has the age of politcal accountibility begun?

Doubtful.

The Winograd Report is the greatest single Israeli invention since the Davidka. It’s the first time in a long time where politicians are finally being held accountable for their actions. It’s the straw that broke the camel’s back and it looks like the Israeli people have simply had enough. The dirty politics, the corruption, the self-interest..this is much bigger than outrage over the Olmert government’s handling of the Second Lebanon War. The time has come. The Israeli must stand together – right and left – and say enough is enough. We are on a straight path to self destruction. But it is not too late. It’s time that those serving in the Knesset understand that they work for the Israeli people. They serve the public and must put the national interest above their own. You’d think they’d get the hint. Apparently not yet though. Why the hell was the Knesset half empty for today’s special session on the Winograd Report. We are in the midst of a national crisis and our elected representatives can’t even get off their asses and show up at the Knesset?

Tonight’s rally in Tel Aviv is being organized by Uzi Dayan of the Tafnit movement. I am proud to say that I voted for Tafnit in the last election. In my post leading up to last year’s elections I wrote…

Kadima, feh I say. Everyone I know is voting for Kadima because “they don’t really have a choice.” Thing is, there is a choice. And for me that choice is integrity. Kadima is in essence the first national unity government running on the same ticket. Name one national unity government that made it through one term without falling apart. Ok, I can name one, but that doesn’t take away from my point. This government isn’t going to last. Kadima isn’t going to last. They may have filled their ranks with academics and new faces but the fact remains that corrupt fuckers like Meir Shitreet, Tzachi Hanegbi and Ronnie Bar-On are still in the top spots. Olmert’s hands are the cleanest either…

…Bottom line is that Kadima is just more of the same – self-interested politicians who represent nobody but themselves. Likud isn’t much better. Bibi’s party (let’s not forget he gave up Hebron) still has Naomi Blumenthal on his list. Blumenthal was sentenced to eight months in jail, a month after she was found guilty of bribery and obstruction of justice. YET SHE IS STILL ON LIKUD’S LIST.

Everyone is promising reform but no one will deliver. They never do. Since 1991, Knesset members have voted to raise their salaries by 90%. And last year NIS 10 million was allocated to the expense accounts of Parliamentary aides. An increase of NIS 10,000 a month per aide, that’s almost double their salaries. Ever watch the Knesset channel? It’s captivating television, let me tell you. It’s lovely to see an empty Knesset majority of the time unless of course when a vote occurs that is likely to topple the government….

…At least 15 members of this past Knesset have been investigated and several have been convicted of crimes. Yet, we continue to vote for the same parties and same politicians who look out for their own interests and not our own.

It doesn’t really matter who wins today. It’s all bullshit. Nothing is going to change. I’ve decided to vote for Tafnit. Never heard of them? Most people haven’t. They probably don’t have a chance in hell in getting in, but at least I’m voting for a party whose positions I believe in. I refuse to be bullied into the “I’m voting for Kadima because I don’t have a choice” attitude. My friend’s have accused me of wasting a vote by voting for a small party. The only waste is not voting at all. Truth is, it doesn’t really matter, nothing is going to change. Same shit. Different election.

Needless to say I was right. But I of course didn’t see a irresponsibly handled war on the horizon. Well, at least one thing will come out of this. Tafnit has pretty much guaranteed themselves a spot in the next Knesset and will no doubt become a force to be reckoned with.

I’ll post photos from the demonstration later. I got ahead of myself. I was in the hospital all morning for my Remicade treatment. I realized that unless I leave at least two hours early, I’d have to walk a fair amount to Kikar Rabin. In my current state and with the humidity as is, not such a great idea. I prefer living another day.