Exceptions To Every Rule

Fair or not, some of us have to live by the rules and others do not. 

As in all history, we have a class society–there are:

– The kings and the commoners. 

– The lords and the vassals and serfs. 

– The elites and the commoners. 

– The majority and the minorities. 

– The rich and the poor. 

– The haves and the have nots.

Or any other number of variations of this.

Recently, with Hillary Clinton and her multitude of scandals, there was some shock that even in modern-day America, she was able to get off scot-free.

And in this great democracy of ours, it was understood to shut up, or else, for not toeing the line. 

The message to everyone was clear: while “the little guy” is made to pay the price for mediocrity, there are some people that will always be above the law!

It was funny-sad, because we don’t want to believe that anyone can really escape from justice–that it can be beaten–although at times, we just have to acknowledge that justice may have to wait and come in the next world from the true Master of All. 

Today, coming out of my building, a dog from a neighbor started jumping (playfully) on my leg and barking–it was sort of hard to get out of there. 

The problem with this scenario was that my building doesn’t allow dogs.  

So out of curiosity, I stopped someone in the building and asked innocently, “I thought dogs are prohibited in this building?”

“Oh yes.” they answer, but seeing this lady with the active dog, they continue, “That lady has an exception from the board!”

We sort of all looked at each other, because this was not a service dog or anything like that, and it obviously seemed unfair that for her there was one set of rules, and for everyone else, another. 

Yes, there is an exception to every rule…some people can basically do what they want by virtue of their power and money or by who or what they know (i.e. can anyone say lots of skeletons in the closets).  

So while the little guy gets locked in stocks and pillories and the key thrown away for maybe the littlest of misdeeds, others are the exception to the rule–and may even become the Commander In Chief.  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Answer Injustice With Justice

So what is amazing about government scandals is not that they happen, because of course, they do. 

But what is amazing is that the American public is frequently denied justice–whether committed under Democratic or Republican administrations.

Maybe this is because the Justice Department is headed by the Attorney General a political appointee of the President, rather than being independent.   

The President oversees all the government agencies in the Executive Branch of the government, including the Department of Justice (DOJ).

When any of the government agencies in the Executive Branch do something wrong, what should happen is that the Department of Justice (including the FBI) would investigate and bring the offenders to justice. 

But instead, a politically motivated President can direct a politicized Justice Department to stand down–and in a sense end up being the “Chief Obstructionist.”

Obviously every agency is headed by political appointees who serve at the pleasure of the President and who further the administration’s vision, but Justice is unique. 

And if you follow the news, I am sure you can think of more than a few examples where Congress has gotten involved to investigate and even request action by DOJ, but yet nothing seems to happen. 

What is disappointing is that we would like to think that every leader is an icon of righteousness, integrity, and propriety, but instead partisan politics can get in the way, and the leader ends up protecting, whitewashing, or covering up the very wrongdoing that needs to be corrected.

The government system cannot work for the people and the country, if it cannot be accountable to them to do the right thing.

The President–no matter what political affiliation–must assure and be perceived as assuring that everyone under his/her watch is doing the right thing. 

And if and when they stray from serving the people of this country, it should be the President who leads the charge to make it right. 

We all would respect a leader that recognizes and course-corrects when things go astray and does it with integrity and justice–that makes a truly great Democracy.  😉

(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)