The latest data dump leaks, the largest in history, were released this week by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

The Panama Papers, so called as the leaks came from a Panamanian law firm, implicated 140 very high-level politicians and officials connected to leadership positions by revealing their names, countries, and most salaciously linking them to millions to billions of dollars placed into offshore shell company accounts. Read all about it here.

The revelations have just begun. Stay tuned to its website as only a tiny aggregate of all the information, encompassing 40 years of offshore activities of individuals, has been exposed so far.

The ICIJ is careful to state that it is not illegal to hold assets in offshore accounts, and that just because someone’s name is listed it does not mean they perpetrated any wrongdoing.

That said, the ICIJ preliminary results for many individuals (and the amounts of money in these accounts) at best do not give the appearance of propriety, and at worst are open to conjectures of tax evasion and corruption.

What happens to people who decide to run for public office the world over?

Why do we consistently have to hear, see, and read about politically influenced individuals and their endless tales of exploitation, influence peddling, self enhancement, and pure financial greed perpetrated on the backs of law-abiding taxpayer citizens?

Were these people always like this and becoming a “public servant” released the bad genie within them, so that serving the people really means exploitation of the people?

Why do these people do these things?

Because they can.

Why aren’t citizens more upset? Actually, they are. Witness the current political landscape in the US, and the citizen protests against the prime minister of Iceland. Every instance (except for those who have made their own money) of these greedy escapades should be a constant reminder that these individuals have taken our money, our taxes, and used them for their own personal goals. And by “our”, I mean the global ubiquitous “us.”

Having said that, not all politicians are immorally inclined to take care of their needs first, but far too often the altruistic public service commitments of good politicians are outweighed by the greed of bad politicians and officials.

This latest global financial scandal involving politicians certainly may be dismissed here in the old Bermudian way as, “it’s got nothin’ to do with me.”

Wrong. It has everything to do with you, me and the resident population. If it hasn’t happened here, statistically, it could happen.

The larger point even if such offshore holdings are legitimate exercises for personal money (not ordinary taxpayers), is that these individuals have the financial resources, the armies of advisers and the like to implement these complex financial arrangements. The rest of us do not.

We just get to pay our taxes no matter where we live, and try to manage our financial lives as best we can because we have no choice in the matter.

Except for our powerful vote.

In a little over a year-and-a-half Bermuda will face another General Election.

Consider starting your personal evaluation and observations of our politicians (and those who want to be candidates) along with our political process, and doing so now, rather than later when all the platitudes, rhetoric, plans and promises are in place.

How can you, as an intelligent voter, assess a political candidate’s motives, integrity, and commitment to serve?

Here is a short basic checklist to use as a guide. Feel free to add your own opinions.

• What have they done for you? Are you better off now than you were ten years or five years ago?

• When a politician tenders a proposal, ask what is in it for you and the country — will it be to your benefit?

• Who are they? Are they successful? Financially successful means that you feel comfortable that their lifestyle is like your family’s, built with education and honest, incredibly hard work.

• What do you know about them? Do they have the moral integrity to accept responsibility for their choices and actions? Or are they flip-floppers changing their positions (and blame) depending upon the current political climate?

• Do they tend to promise the world? Look beyond the words, focus on the deeds.

• Can you trust them to do their best for you? You have to feel confident in placing your trust in your choices.

Two last thoughts.

1. Always remember this is your money that politicians are spending.

2. Leona Helmsley, a real-estate maven also known as the Queen of Mean, served time in prison for US tax evasion. At her trial, she famously said: “We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes.”

Yes, we may be the little people that have to pay taxes, but Leona forgot a very important thing. As taxpayers, we have a very powerful choice. We can exercise our right to vote out those who do not represent our best interests. Democracy at its finest.

A good reading source is How do citizens choose who to vote for, by Lambros Fatsis, which can be found on the website of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Follow this link: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/how-do-citizens-choose-who-to-vote-for-a-sociological-account-of-the-2015-uk-general-election/

Martha Harris Myron CPA PFS JSM, Masters of Law: International Tax and Financial Services. Appointed to the Professional Tax Advisory Council, American Citizens Abroad, https://americansabroad.org/. The Pondstraddler* Life™ financial perspectives for Bermuda residents with multinational families and international connections on the Great Atlantic Pond. Contact: martha@pondstraddler.com