[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONESTY IN OUR LEADERS DOES MATTER

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, we are losing the concept of honesty and 
trust in our society. Over the last few months here in Washington the 
concept is fading and being replaced by denial, distraction, delay and 
destruction of those seeking the truth. We all know in our hearts that 
honesty is always the best policy, but when leadership in a free 
society lowers the standard, it affects us all.
  Mr. Speaker, leadership does matter. We all saw that when the 
President spoke on MTV, saying he would inhale if he had to do it all 
over again, and then drug use actually increased.
  If we lower the standard of honesty and trust, it means we no longer 
honor our commitments to our checking accounts, resulting in bounced 
checks. It means that we no longer honor our commitments to credit card 
accounts, meaning more bankruptcy. It means we no longer honor our 
commitments to marriage, meaning divorces will rise.
  Is there not enough hot checks today? Do we not have enough 
bankruptcy? Is there not too many divorces today? Let us demand honesty 
and trust from ourselves, our neighbors and our elected officials.

                          ____________________