Criticism of corruption in Mexican modern history includes a somewhat funny story about Alvaro Obregon Salido, the first post-Revolution elected President (1920-1924) who lost his right arm in the Battle of Celaya against Pancho Villa’s army in 1915. The story goes on to say that after being elected, Obregon was heard saying that Mexico was very lucky to have him as President because he had only one arm to gather the money that may fall his way.
Corruption in public office is one of the characteristics of a country with weak political institutions in the process of development or in the process of decline. That is, there is a lot of room for mischief of this type when things are not all in place yet or when the opposite is true and things are coming apart.
The acceptance on the part of President Trump of the 400 million dollar “Flying Palace” aircraft from the rich Middle Eastern country of Qatar, with the idea of it eventually being for personal use, is a case in point. To me, it is not so much the gift of the plane, which cannot be used as Air Force One without a billion dollars worth of modifications, as what it says about America.
Have we become a country where someone in power can manipulate our institutions beginning with the Constitution itself and get away with it? Have we become a country where political power as well as our country can be sold to the highest bidder?
I am asking those questions because this has happened before and it is not a pretty tale. Rome began as a kingdom, transformed itself into a republic with a promising collective authority before ending its life as a divided empire with despots vying for large and small pieces of its territory as symbols of personal power.
In 193 CE, 946 years after its founding, the Roman Republic reached a breaking point in its trajectory that saw a major event that manifested its slow decline. On March 28 of that year, the Praetorian Guard proclaimed its commander, Consul Didius Julianus as the new emperor of the realm.
That appointment came as a result of Consul Julianus being the highest bidder for the position. The Praetorian Guard, the personal security unit of the political leader was now in the business of selling the highest political position in the land to the person with the most money to offer.
This approach together with others like utilizing the army, the inheritance process or family connections, led Rome away from the founding principles of the republic to empire and decadence that ended with the fall of Constantinople in 1453. That is the road map we may be following as the country moves toward oligarch leadership, challenges to the Constitution and buying and selling political power.
The unconstitutional acceptance of an expensive gift like the 400 million Boeing 747 jet for personal use by a would-be authoritarian leader is part of a national drive to the demise of democracy. What follows is running the country like a family corporation with a father figure that must be obeyed.
Another Mexican presidential corruption joke going around is that of Miguel de la Madrid (1982-1988) who is said to have claimed the 1985 Mexico City earthquake as a great personal benefit. I wonder what stories will be attached to America and the Middle East.
I am sure that the 747 flying palace tale will be included. It is already written.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of LaVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to News@lavozcolorado.com.
