Who Can You Trust?

By Ann

interacc.typepad.com

Who should you vote for?  It depends on what issues you feel are most important and on the person that you feel is most qualified.   Today’s post is not about national politics and I’m not going to tell you how you should vote in that arena- although I have strong convictions and have several ideas and if you want some guidance just send me an email and I will be more than happy to oblige.

I am talking about local politics.  People vote down the line of their prospective political party and generally don’t do any research into the candidates that they pick.  This is dangerous because the elected official may not be a good person and they will surely be in a position that affects the lives of many.

As I sit here, I am watching a high profile case whereby a judge was convicted of racketeering and sending juveniles to jail in exchange for money kickbacks.   He was elected.

ottingerlaw.com

 

A  few counties over a trial court judge also made headlines when he broke his former paramour’s arm during a heated argument.   The object of his affection is a public defender and she had to get a protection from abuse order  in the hopes that it deters him from coming after her.   He was elected.

wishfulcanvas.blogspot.com

A local police investigator who was well known for his role in the prosecution of high profile sex offenses and child porn cases has just been arrested for trying to solicit a thirteen year old girl online.   He also set up a webcam, danced naked to lady gaga, and told her to delete the conversation so her mom wouldn’t know.  He wasn’t elected but I couldn’t resist.   

odt.co.nz

 

The television set is flooding my living room with tales of corruption and sensational guilty verdicts.   I think back to a conversation I had with my client’s father.  He wanted to know if he was going to win at trial.  I couldn’t give him a definitive answer.  He tried to bond with me and differentiate his son with the influx from a nearby city.  Note: influx to the locals is code for people who are not white.  Ironically, his son is charged with one of the most serious of offenses and the  “influx” rarely if ever commits these types of crimes.   I resisted the urge to confront this guy with his hypocrisy.

But it also made me think that I should be scared of people who are in a position of power, influence, or status.   They have a sense of entitlement and a lack of personal responsibility for their bad behavior just because they are not poor, illiterate, or marginalized.

  

In their quest to differentiate themselves from the acts of people they deem “less than”  they become less than… human. 

prwatch.org