Corrupt

ello. My name is Gerome Phillips, and I am here to tell you a story. It is one that I sincerely hope will prove useful to you throughout life�s journeys. I grew up on a small farm, in eastern Kentucky. I had plans, big plans, you know. I grew up wanting to make a difference in the world, to leave my mark. I wanted to be rich, powerful, successful, just like the people in the movies. But I wanted more than those superficial, material things. I guess that�s what set me apart from the majority of my peers. Throughout my school years, I did everything that I could in pursuit of those goals. I kept focused, worked hard, � gave it everything that I had.

I wanted to make a difference, to help others. I wanted to walk down the street, and have men tip their hats in recognition. That�s why, in the fall of 1994, I ran for the spot that George Karlik left vacant in the House. I didn�t know whether I had a chance, but it was worth a shot. I knew that my lifelong dreams would wither away if I didn�t put forth some kind of valiant effort, so I did.

It wasn�t as if my efforts were going to be futile, either. I had grown up in this community, and personally knew a great deal of the population. They were all great people, and I trusted they would make the right decision. So as we were wrapping up the last of our campaign efforts on the evening of November 5, I sat down with a sigh of relief, and left everything in the hands of God and the people.

I was overjoyed, regardless of the outcome of this election, that I would finally be able to leave this hell hole that we had called campaign headquarters for the prior year. Everything in it was either used or rented, and the used things were beat to crap. Watching the election returns, my campaign staff and I were scattered among the room, resting on the one tattered couch that I had picked up at a yard sale for fifteen bucks, or on the lawn furniture that the staff had found somewhere in their garages. We were watching an old television that, although color, didn�t get a reception that was worth an damn. Needless to say, I was ready to hang up my hat if our efforts proved fruitless.

That�s not to say, however, that I had lost any of the drive that I started the campaign with. I was still ready and willing to take on the world, or even worse, the rat infested sewers that some like to call our federal government. I just didn�t realize what I was in for after that night.

I wound up winning by a landslide, mostly because the incumbent, my opponent, was incompetent. The people were irate with his inadequacy as a legislator; they were ready for a change. Thus, they hired me as their representative in Washington. As soon as I arrived, however, my luck seemed to change.

My first few weeks up on Capitol Hill were great; I introduced a lot of the legislation which I had promised my constituents. I began to acquire a feel for the political arena, and for the happenings backstage. All of what happens in Washington, as everyone is well aware, is not publicized. In fact, if everything that did occur in Washington was publicized, I don�t think that there�s a single person in this country that wouldn�t be appalled at the actions of some of the most trusted men in America.

I went into the House with a clear purpose, and an unobstructed view of right and wrong. I assured myself repeatedly that I would never be drawn into the inappropriate actions of which so many of this nation�s leaders have been accused. Nevertheless, the peer pressure that draws so many teenagers into drugs, alcohol and sex can also have a profound influence on the most strong willed of adults. Those first few weeks, as I said, were easy. It wasn�t until after I had become accustomed to the atmosphere of Capitol Hill did the real excitement begin.

I believe it was around the first week of February that the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Foreign Relations approached me. His name was Joseph Alderige, and he was widely respected both within the political arena and outside of it. He offered me a place within his coveted committee (it isn�t everyday that a freshman congressman gets approached with an offer such as this). How could I turn it down? I spent the next six months laboring over tedious, quite boring foreign relations agreements, forms, and the such. I had become one of Alderige�s main documents drafters, and I had gained his respect.

As time went on, my profile within the House became higher and higher. I was loaded down with increasingly large responsibilities, and I started to know Alderige better than most. We began to spend a lot of time in his personal office, often late into the night, pouring over reams of documents vital to the foreign relations operations of the United States. By the time we both left for home, the office would be strewed with empty Diet Pepsi cans, Frito bags, and often a pizza box or two.

It was during these long periods of interaction that I began to realize by means of deductive reasoning the kind of man Alderige truly was. Sure, he wanted the best for the people, but that was far from the top of his list of priorities. He was in this almost exclusively for his personal benefit, without regard to the welfare of others. He would often go on massive shopping sprees, and even went so far as to purchase a luxury-sports vehicle for himself while disguising these expenditures as committee-related.

This type of activity I knew to be contrary to my ideals, but it wasn�t until Alderige�s intentional altering of foreign relations documents in favor of the foreign nation due to personal gifts (monetary and otherwise) from those foreigners which the documents specified. At this point, I had become totally enraged by these activities. I was content to keep my mouth shut regarding the chairman�s personal expenditures, but there was no way that I could remain silent about an issue as serious as foreign influence in domestic legislation, as keep as halfway clear conscience. The consequences that could result for the American people, such as dramatically decreased revenues for American industries, convinced me to speak out against Alderige.

My career was at stake, I was well aware. I decided to discuss this issue privately with a few of my closest colleagues in the House, and get their opinions. They all directed me to speak out, for that was in the best interest for the people and for myself. If anyone was to ever find out about Alderige�s scam, and the fact that I was well aware of his actions, I would be all but incriminated for the rest of career, possibly life. Or, rat her, I would be out of a career because I would not be re-elected to this position.

I decided that the best way to make an impact against the chairman would be to hold a nationally televised press conference, for this was an issue directly important to the people. Just before I was to go on the air, however, I received a phone call. It was the chairman.

�Gerome, you�re making a terrible mistake. If you care at all for the preservation of your career, or for your family, for God�s sake, don�t go through with this.�

�Joe, you�re the one whose made the mistakes. You�ve taken the well being, safety, and economic security of this nation and��

�Gerome, I�m not going to tell you again. You go through with this, and the consequences will not be pretty. We�ve worked together and know each other well now. You will keep your mouth shut, I�m not giving you any other options�

There was a dial tone. The unwavering tone of the chairman�s voice reiterated the fact that he was not kidding. I had an ugly decision to make, and I had about five minutes to make it.

I decided in favor of not publicizing the wrong doings of this man, for reasons that are quite apparent. I simply winged the press conference, discussing other problems with which I had been dealing. That leaves me in an uncomfortable situation.

It has been a few months since that press conference, and my conscience has been bugging the hell out of me. That�s why I wrote this. Neither my name, Joseph Alderige�s, nor his respective position are true. I have chosen to remain anonymous for the same reason that I have still not publicly released the �chairman�s� incidents of wrong doing. I am simply hoping that all who partake in this story will either not follow my example of silence, or will do their best to avoid such situations as these, for they can truly ruin a man.

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