Avoidance of legal obligations by politicians

Circumvention of the law by politicians
Manipulative interpretation of the law by government

Nature

Elected office holders, particularly those leading nations, are corrupted by the belief that they are above the law and have the right or obligation to interpret it in their own way. While those who are self seeking far out number those who have the nation's interests as their central concern, both step beyond the traditions, spirit and letter of the law. Presidents and prime ministers attempts to escape accountability for their deeds threaten the very institutions of rule by law. Reducing the interpretation of law to their own perceptions without standing before the judgements of others is the way of the despot.

Background

The avoidance of legal obligations by politicians has drawn global scrutiny since the Watergate scandal in the 1970s, which exposed systematic abuses of power and evasion of accountability. Subsequent revelations, such as the "cash-for-questions" affair in the UK and the Operation Car Wash investigation in Brazil, highlighted the persistence and international scope of this issue. Growing media coverage and investigative journalism have deepened public awareness, prompting calls for stronger legal and ethical oversight worldwide.

Incidence

355 out of a total of 435 USA House of Representative congressmen (1992) had repeated written bad cheques, without penalty, at their private bank. One had a total of 743 bad cheques, another 878, totalling $344,000.

Claim

Those in power tend to develop a manipulative instinct towards what the law can and cannot be made to do. Rather than limiting the power of government, it is then used as an instrument to be turned to the advantage of government.

Counter-claim

The notion that politicians’ avoidance of legal obligations is a significant problem is vastly overstated. In reality, such instances are rare and often exaggerated by the media for sensationalism. Most politicians operate within the law, and existing checks and balances are sufficient to address any minor infractions. Focusing on this issue distracts from more pressing concerns, such as economic growth and public welfare, which truly deserve our attention and resources.