The reason the “Bridgegate” scandal in NJ has attracted global attention is not merely due to Governor Christie’s presidential ambitions – but because it is an attack on our inherent human dignity.
What has happened in New Jersey is not simply a matter of government abuse – we live with that daily; and, it certainly is not important because the governor was “lied to” – it is important because the inherent dignity of innocent people was attacked.
Ordinary people, who get up every morning to go to unglamorous jobs, who work in positions with little authority, they are deserving of dignity and respect. They do not write laws, vote on budgets, but they do all of the paying and most of the living and dying – and they build meaningful communities in their “free time”.
While the state of New Jersey finds a healthy revenue source in promoting the lottery as a ticket out of a mundane existence, most people are not seeking or expecting enormous wealth. Most people are looking for enough sustenance to preserve their dignity, work unhampered, and enjoy the values so often voiced in political sound bites – family, friends, community.
Investigations, commissions, hearings, and “apologies” can discuss the abuse of government – but in so doing they should communicate the core of what inspires the public outrage over this abuse.
The kernel for this particular public outrage is that innocent people were demeaned, their inherent human dignity was attacked, and they were treated as pawns in a game played by kings and queens.
It is a dangerous game that has no place in the dream that was America. This is no mere political scandal, but a challenge to the inalienable, inherent rights and dignity endowed by our Creator – it is a game that inspires revolutions.
Going forward, the goal of those in power should not simply be to expose any abuse of government that may have occurred, the goal must be to preserve what this nation was founded on – the inherent dignity of the individual human being.
“Bridgegate” was not just a fools errand for political revenge, or about Chris Christie being a bully, it was an attack on the most important right from which all other fundamental rights are derived. – to have our inherent human dignity respected.
The right to rise up in the morning, go to work, go to school, raise a family, live your life without being a pawn in someone’s malicious joke.
If those entrusted to serve the public wish to play the role of king or queen, then they should heed the words of the recently departed Nelson Mandela. “Any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose.”
Submitted by Charlie McCormick
This story is about abuse of power and political ambition neither which is a quality acceptable in elected positions, put ahead of the interests of the people who elected them. There will be more and we will get to implement the new role of Lt Governor.
Anyone who thinks all his staff did this on the own needs to get a reality check, and a moral check.
Meanwhile there are so many pressing issues that need to be address but this is both a leader distraction and media distraction. We need jobs and a much better economy. Who is looking out for the residents of NJ who need help?
Its is time that all Americans take back this country and find leaders who will be leaders and not only work for themselves and put back in focus why there were elected in the first place to serve their constituents, and all of them not just the ones who voted for them.
Unemployment Crisis
http://www.neighbors-helping-neighbors.com/unemployment-crisis.html