No one’s above the law

WHY do some politicians think they are above the law? Corruption soars when politicians place themselves above the law.

Do the citizens have any control over politicians? Everyone, including politicians and officials, should be held accountable for their actions. Isn’t it interesting how often government leaders use passive voice to refer to their bad decisions? ‘Mistakes were made’; ‘The intelligence was flawed’; ‘Things got out of control’, etc.

And even when they say, ‘I take responsibility’, they almost never actually take responsibility by, say, resigning or reimbursing or even just apologising to the victims of their decisions; they just go on about their business with nary a look back. Politicians, however, are very eager to hold all the rest of us, as taxpayers and citizens, responsible for obeying them and paying our taxes. If taxpayers and common citizens fail to obey, the politicians are likely to come down on them like a hammer.

No law can be enforced merely by violence. All laws require at least some degree of voluntary compliance. That is far truer of the rule of law than it is even of edicts and commands, for the rule of law requires that government agents – who hold power – voluntarily submit themselves to the rules, from which they might be able to escape by lawless exertion of their powers.

Responsibility and self-control is a key requirement for the enjoyment of liberty, no less among politicians, police and bureaucrats than among citizens. In fact, even more so.

ANTHONY WOODS, Ennis, Co. Clare.