A breakdown in the rule of law

The rule of law in America hasn't existed for a long, long time, and we've seen the consequences of this fact on Wall Street, in corporate boardrooms, and in the infamous torture cells at Guantanamo. Many people across the political spectrum, and in all professions, believe that the crises facing America stem from the breakdown in the rule of law. American leaders, and corporations, are not held accountable for their crimes. There are two classes of citizens, the powerful, and the expendable.

The two quotes below are from one of the top constitutional experts, and one of the top economists, in America.

Jonathan Turley: A legal system cannot demand the faith and fealty of the governed when rules are seen as arbitrary and deceptive. Our leaders have led us not to an economic crisis or an immigration crisis or an environmental crisis or a civil liberties crisis. They have led us to a crisis of faith where citizens no longer believe that laws have any determinant meaning. It is politics, not the law, that appears to drive outcomes — a self-destructive trend for a nation supposedly defined by the rule of law.

James K. Galbraith:
At its heart, therefore, the financial crisis was a breakdown in the rule of law in America.

Ask yourselves: is it possible for mortgage originators, ratings agencies, underwriters, insurers and supervising agencies NOT to have known that the system of housing finance had become infested with fraud? Every statistical indicator of fraudulent practice – growth and profitability – suggests otherwise. Every examination of the record so far suggests otherwise. The very language in use: "liars' loans," "ninja loans," "neutron loans," and "toxic waste," tells you that people knew. I have also heard the expression, "IBG,YBG;" the meaning of that bit of code was: "I'll be gone, you'll be gone."