Sadly, we see in this Obama Administration (but starting before it, I’m sore afraid) another instance of public servants now believing that they are above “their” law and have become Rulers when their illicit behavior affects those of us who are just law abiding – a double standard. From Betsy’s Page:
This gives the scandal new and legitimate legs, for a couple of reasons. First, despite having demanded these records from the IRS for over a year, the agency waited until now (and in a Friday afternoon document dump, no less) to inform Congress of the supposed loss of emails. That makes it look very suspicious, and put together with Lerner’s refusal to testify, even more so.
The second reason is that the IRS is the one agency that demands everyone else keep spotless records for seven years or more on their returns. Now we find out that they’re only keeping their own documentation for six months? For a nation founded on the rule of law and equality under it, this retention for thee but no for we will likely offend a lot more people than extra scrutiny for conservative tax-exempt applicants did, and the lame dog ate my homework excuse will offend the rest.
Sadly, the rule of law seems to be the biggest fantasy of all in the case of the IRS targeting scandal and the abuse of power it represents.
The above is part of a commentary on the IRS scandal that deals with evidence now missing from the investigation that Lois Lerner was actively coordinating with the White House on the IRS targeting Conservative / TEA Party groups before the 2012 Presidential election. This action, I believe is part of Obama’s “fundamentally transforming” America – the diminishment of The Rule of Law. The Rule of Law (in addition to the Right to Private Property) is fundamental to our notion of Liberty and Freedom – part of what makes up American Exceptionalism. No, not just the practice of it but the philosophy of it – that EVERY one EVERY where is subject to the exact same standard. What is good for me is good for thee when we stand before the judicial bench and the good Lord above. It expects that I will behave the same way that other will – and just as important, that the same conditions in the law will apply to others that it applies to me: Equality before the Law.
Unfortunately, we see that Progressives have put The Practice of Politics before The Rule of Law. They have fundamentally changed the rules of the game, arbitrarily. They, by doing this, have tacitly agreed that obtaining, keeping, and wielding of Power outweighs that silly Rule of Law. Why?
Like the Constitution, The Rule of Law is supposed to be a limiting factor. It is supposed to constrain otherwise limitless behavior that would do what it wants. The Progressive answer to that is “unboundless license to act as I want” – a child like attitude that is now coming home to roost for the rest of us as it is being wielded by adults driven to silence those that disagree with them. And what happens when it becomes rooted in Government behavior? What is the end result for citizens?
And I will point out, it is not limited to the Federal Government either. A local restauranteur that I talked with on Sunday (happen to have gone to lunch; he just sat down opposite me) asked for my presence at my town’s Planning Board meeting – a sordid reason but dealing with a scenario that the town had first given him permission to open a “donut trailer” on his property for early AM folks (the regular restaurant is only a seasonal one doing lunch and supper – VERY popular and a good reputation) and then turned around and had the code enforcement officer shut him down on opening day.
So he’s invested thousands of dollars for a trailer that is set up for food service, set up a plot of land that runs to code for it, and run all the services. He’s jumped through all the hoops that have been laid down by all levels of Government and passed them with flying colors and is awarded with those precious pieces of paper JUST in time for the most highly trafficked time in our area: Laconia Bike Week. Yes, 250,000 of my favorite biker buds are rolling around in an area that normally has about 30-35 year round residents.
And right after opening, he gets shut down. Scuttlebut has it that the donut vendor he picked had been supplying the biggest local farm in Gilford for their indoor farm stand (the farm is a big operation) but they had a falling out when the vendor didn’t meet the farmer’s wife’s demands for services. The farmer also sits on an important land use board in town. Connect the dots.
