John Horgan (2020 Provincial Election) and now Justin Trudeau (2021 Federal Election) teach important lessons to young people.
How the Real World works.
The Law applies to you and to me.
We will be fined or sent to jail for serious transgressions.
And maybe just for small ones.
If YOU (John Horgan or Justin Trudeau) get yourself elected
The Law? . . . does not apply to you
Responsibility to lead by example?
Why?
Teach Democracy to the young?
Why?
It’s clear enough that People Forget.
George Orwell described it well in Animal Farm
Zombie citizens. Meek media.
Maybe a few mumblings.
Excerpted from my blog:
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW
The rule of law means that the law is above everyone and it applies to everyone. Whether governors or governed, rulers or ruled, no one is above the law, no one is exempted from the law, and no one can grant exemption to the application of the law.
The rules must apply to those who lay them down and to those who apply them – that is, to the government as well as the governed. Nobody has the power to grant exceptions.
All persons, regardless of wealth, social status, or the political power wielded by them, are to be treated the same before the law.
We are in big trouble when the laws do not apply to those who govern.
Many of us do not appreciate the significance of The Rule of Law. We take it for granted.
We don’t stop to think what it would be like if we DO NOT HAVE the rule of law.
We don’t stop to think about WHAT UNDERMINES the rule of law? . . . If people see that the law applies to them, but not to rich people, they grow to hold the law in disdain.
Unequal application of the law breaks down the rule of law. The response then, of those who govern, is to invoke martial law, a police state, because people become unruly.
People usually comply with the law if they see that it is fair and equally applied. You can have a measure of PEACE in the community if the Rule of Law is upheld.
People must, of course, KNOW WHAT THE LAW IS, if the rule of law is to be upheld.
We are in big trouble if we are ignorant, because then we are disempowered and at the mercy of people who are not to be trusted.
We do not have the luxury of being ignorant, and we do not have the luxury of being complacent.
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A more complete package would include Hannah Arendt’s understanding of THE BANALITY OF EVIL. No one “intended” the outcome. It happens over time through the humdrum. (Use the “search” button in upper right corner of this blog. Enter “Arendt”. Also important: “Orwell”.)
“Banal” is an almost obsolete word. It is in the process of being resurrected! Along with knowledge of how Democracy works.
Banal – – so lacking in originality as to be obvious and boring.
See also: Are Snap Elections legal in Canada? Are Fixed Election Dates enforceable?
/Sandra Finley