Equal Justice Under the Law

A poor Black guy gets a nailed on a traffic infraction. His case goes to court posthaste. Since He can’t afford a lawyer, he is convicted and fined. He can’t afford to pay, so his drivers license is suspended while penalties pile up. He can’t get to work, so he loses his job. He can’t pay his rent so he is evicted. Penalties and interest continue to accrue and until he may wind up, Charles Dickens-like, in debtor’s prison.

His criminal record results in his losing the right to vote and makes him a less attractive prospect for future jobs. He may have no options for making a living other than to become a real criminal, the skills for which he acquired during his incarceration.

Another poor Black guy sells some drugs. Unable to make bail, he sits in jail awaiting trial for months, then they toss him in prison for years.

A rich White guy commits almost a hundred serious crimes including leading an insurrection against the US government that played out on live TV before our eyes. There should be no need for a trial. His guilt is as plain as day. He goes on to be indicted for rape, tax evasion and fraudulent business practices, obstruction of justice, hiding evidence, extortion, and more. In all of this his guilt is blatantly obvious as well.

He lawyers up, stays free to do whatever he pleases, including running for President, and diverts campaign contributions to his legal defense fund. His lawyers put up roadblock after roadblock to slow down the judicial system that, hamstrung by its own rules, already moves at a slug’s pace. Meanwhile he lives in a mansion from which, in between rounds of golf, he keeps plotting to overthrow the government and openly vows to establish a dictatorship run by his crime family with him as kingpin.

I don’t know about you, but I have just about given up hope that the Trump cases will be resolved in my lifetime. No matter. The public pays no attention. Most can’t even enumerate the charges, though they all know every lyric in every pop song. A huge swath of voters will gladly vote for him. They say they will do so even if he is convicted.

Even if the guy gets millions fewer votes in the popular election he can still win thanks to gerrymandering and the electoral college system.

Another rich White guy, an executive in a large corporation, rakes in government subsidies and funding for an aircraft manufacturing firm. He pays off inspectors, falsifies testing records and puts planes into service that break up in midair or crash. Lots of people are injured or killed. He gets fined a pittance of his vast wealth and resigns from his position with a golden parachute, set for life.

This is America’s version of equal justice under the law.