A Man Reaps What He Sows

A Man Reaps What He Sows

by Mustang

Paul lectured us that the grace of God does not eliminate the principles of choice and consequence.  Every decision we make produces a peculiar result.  Some of these we can easily anticipate, if we exercise even a modicum of common sense — others are a bit more deceiving and, often, their consequences more severe.  The key to this is not lying to ourselves — particularly if we think that God will somehow excuse us from making poor choices.  If we think that, then we mock God, and this is a serious sin.

What we do in this life matters.  What we say matters.  The seeds we plant matters.  So, the question is, in matters of American democracy, what seeds have we planted?  We have planted the seeds of corruption.

Corruption is a complex topic; what makes it so is that corruption is often deeply rooted in our culture.  We see this in our political behaviors, and we see it in our “societal norms.”  The complexity of the topic may result from the fact that corrupt practices are difficult to quantify, and this is true because — in our multi-cultural society, corrupt practices vary from one ethnicity to another and from one region of the nation to another.  For example, if corrupt practices benefit us directly, we might assume that because they are beneficial, they are not evil.  If you don’t believe this, it is okay with me, but if you want to validate what I’ve said, just ask any Roman.

Corruption is destroying the American Republic.  The level of our corruption increases every year, and we are all so used to it that we give the problem very little consideration.  But make no mistake — if you think our government is corrupt, then you must be evil as well because it was you who helped shape that government.

How bad is corruption in the United States?  To answer that question, one must consider its results.  Ask yourself about your well-being, how satisfied you are with life, how much you trust our government’s decision-makers, how much faith you have in our “hallowed” institutions.  What is the impact of corruption on our social development, economic growth, our quest for an egalitarian society?  If the question seems too broad, consider the effects of corruption on our political behavior. 

Why do we countenance a legal system that grants favoritism to the wealthy and influential — on drug use, for example — and a different standard to the poor black man guilty of the same illegal behavior as Hunter Biden?  One escapes official notice, even though the illicit behavior is well known, and one goes into prison for years.  Is this an example of an egalitarian society, or its opposite?  How do any of us justify it?  And, if we cannot abide by this blatant example of corruption, why do we allow it to continue?  How are we, a generally Christian society, able to ignore the crime of high-ranking politicians (McConnell, Pelosi, Schumer, McCarthy) and demand an accounting for the burglar or car thief?  It is the same behavior.  One generally accepted, one not.  Why?

If I’m wrong about this, please weigh in.  Tell me, where am I wrong?  How are modern Americans any different from ancient Romans, or how do we imagine that our society is in any way superior to that of the victims of Soviet society?

A final question: Why are we angered when we catch high-ranking officials stealing (John Kerry, for example, trying to avoid paying taxes on his yacht) yet continue to countenance his participation in the highest tiers of government?  Let’s not look away from the corrupt men who keep appointing men like Kerry, either.  How did Joe Biden, given all that we know about him in his public life, ever become President of the United States?  It wasn’t because Joe Biden is corrupt —  it was because WE are corrupt.

Mustang also blogs at Fix Bayonets and Thoughts From Afar