Under Watch: More on Former Ill. Gov. George H. Ryan, along with actress Katherine Heigl and U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney
Under watch:
Former Illinois Governor George H. Ryan, 72, convicted of bribery in a sweeping federal corruption case, despite the fact that no one testified to actually seeing the Governor receive money for favors. There are no videotapes, wiretaps or confessions. The fact that his crimes saw the light of day only because an unqualified trucker was involved in an accident that killed six children is testimony to the difficulty in bringing crooked politicians to justice. (Proving that alcoholism is at the root of such misbehaviors can be an even greater challenge.) The accident, which initially focused on bribes paid for drivers’ licenses, has led so far to 79 indictments and 75 convictions.
Ryan is the latest in a long line of corrupt public officials. Five of Illinois’ last nine governors have been convicted of, tried on or stained by charges of criminal wrongdoing. Recall that alcoholism causes power-seeking misbehaviors and, therefore, if there are misbehaviors, we should be looking for alcoholism. There is no more efficient way by which to wield power than holding office. Therefore, corruption in high places is a seminal clue to alcoholism.
Genetics and familial interactions also suggest that alcoholism may be at the root of Gov. Ryan’s criminal behaviors. Studies cited in How to Spot Hidden Alcoholics indicate the odds of addiction in a parent of an addict are over 40%. Ryans’ daughter Lynda Fairman was arrested in 2004 for DUI with a BAL of .19 per cent. Anyone functional enough to get behind the wheel of a car with a BAL greater than .15 per cent has an almost 100% certainty of alcoholism. Fairman’s husband Michael was convicted of DUI in 1995 and again in 1999. Children of alcoholics often put up with serious misbehaviors in close relationships for extended periods because they are accustomed to such conduct.
Although Ryan was pro-active in toughening DUI laws while in office, Michael Fairman’s first DUI was never placed on his driving record in the Secretary of State’s office, which Ryan ran at the time. Fairman testified in the Ryan case he received $55,000 for political consulting work he didn’t do. He may have needed the money to satisfy gambling and other debts. Still, during the time he was receiving the $55,000 in a series of checks, he declared bankruptcy. Ryan, who will be sentenced in August, faces up to 95 years in prison and $4.5 million in fines.
U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney, who refused to respond to an officer’s request to identify herself when entering a Capitol Hill check point and struck the officer when he attempted to restrain her. She is known for volatile behaviors and bizarre claims, such as, “Bush knew about the 9-11 attacks in advance and encouraged them so his pals could profit.”She, like Governor Ryan, has a sense of entitlement indicative of alcoholism. Is there anyone who cares to “out”either of them?
Actress Katherine Heigl, reported as having at least one series of tantrums on the set of “Grey’s Anatomy”and repeatedly calling her agent between screaming sessions, complaining about perceived incompetence among crew members. If these reports are true, we should give her the benefit of the doubt and assume alcoholism, since it’s hard to imagine that anything else could incite such behaviors. Message to her co-workers and family: early identification of and intervention in alcoholism can help prevent tragedy.
Note to family, friends and fans of the above: the benefit of the doubt is given by assuming alcoholism (they are either idiots and fundamentally rotten, or they are alcoholic/other drug addicts”which would explain the misbehaviors). If alcoholic, there is zero chance that behaviors, in the long run, will improve without sobriety. An essential prerequisite to sobriety is the cessation of enabling, allowing pain and crises to build. Thus far, many have done everything they can to protect the addict from the requisite pain, making these news events possible. The cure for alcoholism, consequential bad behaviors and, ultimately, tragedy, is simple: stop protecting the addict from the logical consequences of misbehaviors and proactively intervene.