"I forgot"

Steve Martin used to have a wonderful section of his stand up act called "how to be a millionaire and never pay taxes". The first step was to get a million dollars. Then, two simple words "I forgot" as in "I forgot to pay my taxes".
Seems that a lot of folks in Washington didn't quite understand that Steve Martin was doing a comedy bit, not giving financial advice. The new Treasury Secretary had a little $34,000 lapse in memory. Surely he will be quite understanding of all those late filers and payers now that he oversees the I.R.S.
Not to be outdone however, Tom Daschle drew a blank on about $130,000 in taxes. A "mistake" and he said he was sorry. Again, I am sure the I.R.S. will be much more sympathetic as long as you admit you made a mistake and say your sorry. Of course any of us would be saying our sorries from a jail cell. Daschle just had to give up a Cabinet post and return to a lucrative career of consulting and speaking.
I thought Vice President Biden said last year that paying taxes, and more of them, was "patriotic"? Didn't those two guys get the memo?
I don't just want to pick on politicians. As the government has been writing checks to save banks and other companies, their executives redecorate offices, buy planes and take lavish trips.
Now liberals say the corporate behavior is the product of the unregulated Bush era, but how do they explain wealthy liberal Democrats who don't pay their taxes? That's the Republicans fault too?
The real problem is simple arrogance. Politicians who have been in power so long laugh at the rules the rest of us live by. Corporate execs sign contracts with friendly boards of directors that result in no negative consequences for poor job performance. Any of the rest of us would be out of our jobs. For politicians and executives: no accountability whatsoever.
The new President seems to like the word accountability. He admitted that a "screwed up" on the Daschle nomination. Points for honesty, but his White House still puts out a statement that the President reluctantly accepted Daschle's withdrawal and Geithner remains at Treasury. His press secretary's defense on Geithner seemed to be, "well he has already been confirmed". I think the kids say "neener, neener".
On Daschle, what President Obama should have said was "damn right I accepted his withdrawal and if he had not given it I would have asked for it". When the Geitnner story broke he should have said "I think he would have been a fine Treasury Secretary, but I cannot put someone in charge of the nation's finances who sees fit not to pay his own taxes".
If President Obama wants to be different, he needs to be different. He needs to stop enabling the arrogant behavior of Washington and corporate insiders. That is change to believe in.