Elected officials are not above the law, civility or decency

Have we put our president, members of Congress, state lawmakers and other elected officials on pedestals where we are willing to accept inexcusable behaviors that we do not tolerate from others — like telling blatant lies or breaking well-established rules and laws?

It appears many politicians believe they are entitled to take more liberties with a code of conduct and the rule of law than the rest of us.

They act like they have the right.

They do not.

Are we on the slippery slope of normalizing incivility and lawlessness by continuing to not only ignore such behavior through our silence, but condoning it and rewarding it by voting repeat offenders back into offices?

In the new year, we will inaugurate a president and watch state lawmakers and members of Congress take sacred oaths of office. One of our resolutions should be to become less tolerant of unacceptable behavior that violates those oaths.

There are some important questions to keep in mind.

Do our elected officials act like they are entitled to exercise more or different power, privileges, or rights than the constitution and the people have invested in them?

Now that they are elected, are they focusing on concerns, issues and priorities different than those of the people who they represent?

Are they entitled to ignore and act in ways that are inconsistent with or intended to subvert our laws?

Many lawmakers at both the state and federal levels are already choreographing what they plan to do. Listen to what our president-elect is saying, our number one role model of what America is all about, as he prepares to occupy the highest office in the land.

Look at a priority agenda item that is being set by some Missouri lawmakers. There are others.

Members of Congress are telling us what they plan to focus on.

Are we paying attention?

On a broader scale, and at the dawn of a new year, are we hopeful that America and Missouri will continue to improve on the journey of becoming the nation and a state that we can be proud of, want our kids and generations to build a fulfilling and meaningful life in?

When we hear and watch some of our leaders, it is easy to become discouraged because it seems they are hell bent on taking us back to an oppressive time.

They seem hell bent on embracing and advancing a culture of divisiveness, and separateness — where promoting equal rights, equal access and equal opportunity for all seems to be outdated, a thing of the past.

We will do well to remember that what we are facing — this period of negativity or impending doom — is nothing new.

This country has been severely divided before.

This country has seen racism at its worse.

This country has been and continues to be plagued by sexism.

The impact of these times at the state level mirrored that of the nation. The point is both the nation and state survived and endured.

We will continue to survive.

But will we endure and thrive if we continue to ignore our leaders’ disregard for the law, decency, and civility?

If we continue to accept the deception, the lies and personal agendas that are advanced freely by those we have elected to represent us, how will be endure and thrive?

As another politically tumultuous year ends and a new state and Congressional legislative year begins, we can be the difference if we resolve to:

Not accept that political leaders are perched on pedestals, demand or have star power.Trust and believe our eyes and ears, and stop making excuses and offering alternative interpretations of what we are witnessing.Remember elected officials only have the power, rights and privileges we have entrusted with them. No more. No less.Be confident that the offices they are privileged to occupy do not allow for, or bestow on the occupants the right to personal power grabs or other deviant behavior.

History has shown how one person can change the course of a nation, state, city for good or ill.

This new year is an opportunity to do a course correction, move forward and become better, languish, or go backward and become worse.

Which will it be?

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com.