As the mid-term election approaches, I think it is appropriate for Americans to take stock of life as it exists. Is your life better off than 5 years ago? Overseas conflicts and war, inflation and the cost of living continue to rise while the response of our national leaders appears to be disconnected to the plight many Americans are facing. Reasons are complicated trying to explain these situations, but I believe the priorities of our national leaders explain a lot. Below are a few examples of egregious and profiteering behavior reflecting the self-serving nature of the current administration operating out of the White House. A number of the examples listed below weaken government oversight and reduce the guardrails on government actions, as did the firing of 20 or so inspectors general by President Trump four days into his second term. This group of federal employees is one of the central watchdogs for the federal government identifying and stopping waste, fraud and abuse.