The Rule Of Law...Posted by C

So City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo let the City pay to repair a car that his wife damaged while she was driving it illegally. I know, I know: it sounds like fraud. And he had no intention of paying the City back until he was busted.

Well, so what?

This is what people don't seem to understand about the rule of law: The rule of law applies in inverse proportion to the level of government office you hold. For the math impaired, this means that little people-- people with no government office at all-- have to obey all laws, or they risk being punished. But minor government officials will not be punished for breaking minor laws, and major government officials will not be punished even for breaking major ones.

That isn't difficult is it?

How would we attract the best candidates for government office if we didn't offer them a nice salary and extras like immunity from prosecution? A good man like Rocky Delgadillo would no doubt shun public service in favor of a more lucrative career in the private sector if he didn't know that he could also steal a couple thousand here and there from the City.

(He could not, however, lie us into a war without being punished. That requires holding a much higher office.)

Further, when some misguided, muckraking reporter exposes wrong-doing by a worthy public official, saying "I take full responsibility" is all that the official is required to do set things right.

People get confused because "I take full responsibility" used to mean things like "the guilty will be punished" or "I will be submitting my resignation." Not anymore. (Try to keep up, folks.) Now it means, "Move along; nothing to see here."

(In the case of the U.S. Attorney General, it means "You don't have the votes to impeach me, so buzz off.")

So, the lesson here is: If you are a lowly working stiff who holds no office, walk the straight and narrow. If you are a government official, you may lie and cheat with impunity. If you get caught, just say "I take full responsibility."

Labels: Delgadillo, Rule of Law, Satire

  ¶ 2:51 PM