Asking whether or not to fund the Peace Corps might be considered blasphemy in some circles, but there are a few aspects of the Peace Corps that haven’t gotten a lot of attention.  Yesterday Big Government posted an article about Republican efforts to slash government funding for the Peace Corps.  How could they?  Unfortunately, when you look at the history of the organization–easily.

The article reports on the treatment of women in the Peace Corps–being sent into dangerous areas without sufficient protection and then, in the instances (and there were more than a few) where they were raped, being denied adequate medical care or being told that the rape was their fault.  Is this any way to run any organization?

The article reports:

“Of course, he (Senator Harry Reid) had nothing to say in response to charges that perhaps the Peace Corps isn’t so peaceful. At least not for the women who were raped – and then blamed for being raped – during their stints in the corps. No ado was made about the House hearing on Wednesday investigating the same either, nor the legislation proposed by Congressman Poe (R-TX) that would require some Peace Corps oversight. In fact, the New York Times reported that Democrats wished to, as always, sweep such things under the rug in fear that their precious funding might be lost:”

One story the article relates:

“Deborah Gardner was murdered by fellow Peace Corps worker Dennis Priven, who turned himself in. After stabbing her – 22 times – to death. The Peace Corps reaction? Try to cover it up:

“”Even after everyone knew it was Dennis, already that effort by the Peace Corps to put the blame somewhere else. And to make things go away,” says Weiss. “That impulse has seized the Peace Corps within moments of Deb’s death.”

“As revolting as that is, they went one further. The Peace Corps hired, and paid for, the best defense attorney available in Tonga. Priven was found not guilty and the Peace Corps quietly shuffled him back to the United States. Where he lived freely, for decades. Working for the government. No, really:

“Weiss says Priven has led a small, anonymous life since then. He’s divorced, and he recently retired after working for decades for the U.S. government.

“”Twelve years after Deb’s death, he was working for Social Security,” says Weiss. “And ultimately was their top computer guy in the Brooklyn office.””

This is not an organization that deserves one penny of taxpayer money.