In case you're just returning from a trip yourself and haven't heard about it, a bunch of Democrats from the state House of Representatives are in deep doo-doo.

Twelve people have been indicted so far, including former Democratic House whip Mike Veon. The grand jury reports in question are pretty lengthy, but the gist of it is that the Democrats in question used public funds (aka: "taxpayer dollars") to finance campaigns.

That's a big no-no, from both a legal and ethical perspective.

OK, by necessity this blog is more about analysis that opinion. I can't be praising or trashing the people I cover in one forum, then claiming to be neutral in another. It just doesn't work that way.

Still, I think I'm safe in saying that the implications here are really disturbing, if the allegations are true.

Look, I'm no Pollyanna. Sometimes, I get irritated when people complain endlessly about negative campaigning during election season. Yes, it would be nice if candidates only talked about what they intend to do instead of criticizing their opponents' records. It would also be nice if I had a pet flying pony from The Magical Land of Gumdrop Trees. Ain't gonna happen.

Politics is a bloodsport that gets particular brutal around campaign time. That's just the nature of the game.

But consider the implications here. The crucial thing about tax money is that you have to pay it. If you don't, somebody comes around and arrests you.

The reason we tolerate this arrangement, ostensibly, is because it's necessary. If it wasn't, it would simply be extortion.

That's why it's vitally important for the government -- at every level and in every aspect of its operations -- to be fully accountable to the public. Members of the public give great power to their government officials by entrusting them with that money.

If government officials use that money for the purpose of keeping themselves in power, then take steps to conceal their actions, it represents an appalling and frightening abuse of that trust.