More Double Standards!

If one wanted an example as to what is wrong with the American justice system, he could simply point to the case of Donte Stallworth.

Earlier in the year, after a night of drinking, Stallworth decided to drive home. On his way home he struck and killed a man who was on his way to work. It was proven that Stallworth was under the influence of alcohol while driving after a blood test determined his BAC to be .126. He was then charged with OUI manslaughter and faced the possibility of fifteen years in prison. The average prison sentence in the state of Florida is usually between five and eight years.

However, Stallworth is a professional football player (for the Cleveland Browns) and a celebrity. So, after pleading guilty to the charges, he was sentenced to serve only thirty days in prison (yes you did read that right). Well, as of this morning this person is walking free after serving only twenty-four days of his sentence. Now, his license has been permenantly suspended and he faces eight years on probation. The NFL has also indefinitely suspended Stallworth.

Does the punishment fit the crime? Of course not. Instead this is another classic example of celebrities and athletes being treated better than the rest of society. The law has become a joke to these people because they know they can get away with murder. If you or I were charged with this crime we would probably be in jail for the full fifteen years. Instead this person gets to go on living his life while another man is dead.

No wonder why there is such disillusionment within the confines of the legal system. People know that there are double standards in the law which will work against the common man. Now, I'm not advocating that the common man should get the same treatment as a celebrity. Instead, I advocate the opposite. Justice is suppose to be blind! A celebrity should have the same standard put upon them as the common man. The rich man should be equal to the poor man and the middle-class man. Asian, Black, Latino, White, Blue, Green, or whatever color one is should not matter. Our system was based on the idea that all men and women are treated equally under the eyes of the law. No one person is better than the other.

This horrific episode just goes to show how flawed the system truly is.

Double Standards!

Yesterday, a calm and composed Senator by the name of Jim DeMint (R-SC) attempted to introduce an amendment to a bill being debated on the floor of the Senate. The amendment was based from a similar one introduced into the House of Representatives by Ron Paul (R-TX). It would call for an open audit (GAO) of the Federal Reserve and for the findings to be reported to Congress by the end of the 2010 fiscal year. However, shortly after his speech the Senate Democrats quickly countered the amendment by citing an obscure rule.

The rule is known as "Rule 16" which prevents certain items from being added on to legislation. There is sound reasoning behind this rule, yet, there is also a slight issue with the opponents of this amendment in invoking it. This issue being that most of the amendments proposed to this legislation by the Senate Democrats violate "Rule 16." After being rebuked, Senator DeMint promptly went into action to bring this to the forefront.

This video serves as a great example as to whats wrong with our current Congress. When a rule serves to help out one party it is envoked in a flash, yet, ignored by that same party. There is a double standard for the party thats in power. Neither group is willing to "reach across the aisle" and instead our legislation is always held hostage along party lines. This is contrary to what the American public was promised during the last presidential election. Both parties are guilty of this practice and in the end the ones suffering are the American public.