In our modern age, we are often dismissive of writers of the past, thinking that they were bound by their time and circumstances. However, there were some writers who whose comments on the nature of power hold true today. Lord Acton, a British historian was one of them. Noting that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, he also wrote that despotic power is always accompanied by a corruption of morality.
Those two observations reflect much of what is going on in America today. Politicians who wield or try to wield absolute power have created a society which is destroying our basic moral core and fiber. The $1.8 billion fund agreed to by an executive and his own government is a perfect example.
Not only will we pay for this so-called reimbursement for legal fees for convicted criminals, but he IRS will “never” audit the tax returns of the President or his family at any time in the future. Surely this is an abuse of power. Even banana republic presidents have not shown such hubris. You and I, struggling in an economy designed to make the rich even richer, know that we cannot cheat on our taxes without penalty. What does it say about our country to allow such a failure of right and wrong?
Prayer for the Day
Let us not lose our sense of who we should be, O God,
But let us feel your healing touch in our lives today;
Let us not be swayed by those who would narrow your vision
For we know you call us to task when we ignore your law.
Strengthen our understanding of your righteousness,
So we shirk not from the corruption we see around us..
In the name of the One who opens the way,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
But you can only lie about who you are for so long without going crazy.
Ellen Wittlinger, American writer, from Parrotfish
In the past, a president wouldn’t come anywhere near being involved with these sorts of issues to avoid even the appearance of any kind of corruption or undue influence
Gregory Sisk, former DOJ attorney, now at St. Thomas Law School
O Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly; and do what is right,
And speak the truth from their heart;
Who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends,
Nor take up a reproach against their neighbors
Psalm 15: 1-3