Keith Mack
When the government breaks the law, it can have serious consequences for the rule of law and the rights of citizens. In some cases, government officials may be able to get away with breaking the law, especially when it comes to violations of civil rights by police officers and other government agents. This can create a culture where law enforcement feels free to break the laws it enforces, as seen in the aftermath of 9/11 when the US government engaged in warrantless surveillance and torture. Even when the government portrays itself as the victim of a crime, it may fail to prosecute its own officials. This can lead to a breakdown of trust in the justice system and the rule of law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Government breaking its own laws | The government needn't abide by the Constitution or federal laws or societal norms when it engages in prosecutions or surveillance for national security purposes |
| The government portrays itself as the victim of crimes | |
| The government should be prosecuting its own | |
| Government officials breaking the law | Government officials often get away with breaking the law |
| Charges and convictions of police officers are extremely rare |
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What You'll Learn
Government officials breaking the law often get away with it
In the United States, there is a culture in federal law enforcement that the government needn't abide by the Constitution, federal laws, or societal norms when it engages in prosecutions or surveillance for national security purposes. This attitude goes back to the weeks after 9/11 when then-President George W. Bush began his systematic shredding of the Constitution by unleashing federal agencies to spy on all Americans without warrants and the CIA to torture foreign persons to gain information about so-called threats to the nation.
There are no crimes prosecuted more aggressively than those in which the government portrays itself as the victim. Yet, when government officials break the law, they are rarely charged or convicted. For example, an FBI agent admitted under cross-examination that she was asked to alter evidence to remove the name of another FBI agent.
Assault, aggravated assault, murder, and manslaughter are crimes under state law, and violations of civil rights by government agents are federal felonies. However, charges and convictions of police officers are extremely rare, even in cases of egregious police misconduct. This double standard needs to change.
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Government breaking its own laws in the name of national security
When the government breaks its own laws in the name of national security, it sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the very fabric of democracy. This was evident in the aftermath of 9/11, when then-President George W. Bush authorised federal agencies to spy on Americans without warrants and condoned the use of torture by the CIA to extract information from foreign persons, all under the guise of preserving national security.
The lack of accountability for these actions has had far-reaching consequences. No one in the federal government has been held responsible for the systematic violation of the privacy of 330 million Americans, nor for the use of torture, setting a precedent that law enforcement can act with impunity. This has fostered a culture of lawlessness within federal agencies, where lying, cheating, and stealing have become acceptable means to an end.
Furthermore, the government's willingness to break its own laws erodes trust in the institutions meant to protect citizens. When those in power selectively enforce laws or use them as a tool to target certain groups, it undermines the very concept of justice and equality before the law. It raises questions about the government's commitment to upholding the Constitution and protecting the rights of its citizens.
In a recent trial involving members of the Proud Boys, an FBI agent admitted to being asked to doctor and destroy evidence, as well as spying on defence lawyers. This is yet another example of the government's disregard for the rule of law and further erodes trust in the justice system.
When the government breaks its own laws, it sets a dangerous precedent, undermines trust in institutions, and erodes the very foundations of democracy. It is crucial that those in power are held accountable for their actions and that the rule of law is upheld, even in the face of national security concerns.
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Government violating natural rights
When the government breaks the law, it often gets away with it. This is a double standard, as American society imposes harsh penalties on ordinary people accused or convicted of committing crimes.
The Ninth Amendment states that the government shall not deny or disparage natural rights. This includes the right to think as you wish, which is immune from governmental reach. The government should not have the power to punish speech that criticises the government in good faith. However, this does not encompass all expression, as the government can prevent the violation of norms of civility and morality, such as rules against blasphemy and profane swearing.
Constitutional government assures the rights of its citizens in two ways: it establishes limits on the power of the government to prevent it from violating natural rights, and it states that the government should be organised and its power distributed in such a way as to increase the possibility that those limitations will be effective. The distribution and sharing of power makes it less likely that any one branch can abuse or misuse its powers.
Despite this, throughout history, governments have deprived people of their rights more often than they have protected them. This was the case when then-President George W. Bush began his systematic shredding of the Constitution by unleashing federal agencies to spy on all Americans without warrants and the CIA to torture foreign persons in order to gain information about so-called threats to the nation.
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Government portraying itself as the victim
When the government breaks the law, it often portrays itself as the victim. This is a tactic used to deflect attention away from its own wrongdoing and to present itself as the aggrieved party.
One example of this can be seen in the case of the Proud Boys, where the government prosecuted thoughts and violated natural law, yet the attorneys for the Proud Boys lost their argument as the courts deferred to the government. The government positioned itself as the victim of negative thoughts and ideas, despite the natural right to think as one wishes being immune from governmental reach.
Another instance of the government breaking the law and portraying itself as the victim is the case of an FBI agent who admitted under cross-examination that she was asked to alter evidence to remove the name of another FBI agent. Instead of holding itself accountable, the government often chooses to pursue aggressive prosecutions of others, even when it is the perpetrator of wrongdoing.
This culture of impunity within federal law enforcement and government officials has been criticised, as they are seen to needn’t abide by the Constitution, federal laws, or societal norms when engaging in prosecutions or surveillance for national security purposes. This attitude, which allows law enforcement to break the laws it enforces in the name of national security, can be traced back to the weeks after 9/11 when then-President George W. Bush authorised federal agencies to spy on Americans without warrants and torture foreign persons, all under the guise of preserving national security.
As a result, when government officials and law enforcement break the law, they often get away with it, while ordinary people accused or convicted of crimes face harsh penalties. This double standard needs to change, as it undermines the very fabric of the law and erodes trust in the justice system.
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Police misconduct
When the government breaks the law, there is a culture of impunity that allows it to go unpunished. This is especially true when it comes to police misconduct. While there are laws against police misconduct, charges and convictions of police officers are extremely rare. This is despite the fact that assault, aggravated assault, murder, and manslaughter are crimes under state law, and violations of civil rights by government agents are federal felonies.
The government's attitude towards law enforcement is that it is free to break the laws it enforces in order to preserve national security. This attitude goes back to the weeks after 9/11 when then-President George W. Bush began his systematic shredding of the Constitution by unleashing federal agencies to spy on all Americans without warrants and the CIA to torture foreign persons in order to gain information about so-called threats to the nation.
American society imposes harsh penalties on ordinary people accused or convicted of committing crimes, but when police officers, prosecutors, and other government officials break the law and violate people's rights, they often get away with it. This double standard needs to change.
The government should be prosecuting its own when it comes to crimes in which it portrays itself as the victim. However, this is rarely the case. For example, an FBI agent admitted under cross-examination that she was asked to alter evidence so as to remove the name of another FBI agent as having been present.
The right to think as you wish is a natural right and thus is immune from governmental reach. The natural rights of persons, which the Ninth Amendment states the government shall not deny or disparage, means that there is no moral or legal basis for government condemnation of ideas or thoughts. This includes all thoughts, even those that are negative about the government.
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Frequently asked questions
When government officials break the law, they often get away with it. This is because American society imposes harsh penalties on ordinary people accused or convicted of committing crimes, but when police officers, prosecutors, and other government officials break the law and violate people’s rights, they are rarely charged or convicted.
Assault, aggravated assault, murder, and manslaughter are crimes under state law, and violations of civil rights by government agents are federal felonies. However, charges and convictions of police officers are extremely rare.
Yes, the right to think as you wish is a natural right and thus is immune from governmental reach. The natural rights of persons, which the Ninth Amendment states the government shall not deny or disparage, means that there is no moral or legal basis for government condemnation of ideas or thoughts.
Yes, after 9/11, then-President George W. Bush began his systematic shredding of the Constitution by unleashing federal agencies to spy on all Americans without warrants and the CIA to torture foreign persons in order to gain information about so-called threats to the nation.
