Letter to the Editor: Checks and Balances

BY JULIE CEBULSKI

While working on a team of directors in an assisted living facility, our team was shocked to learn that a staff member from a sister facility was arrested for embezzlement.  We were shocked and saddened that someone we knew and respected had committed a crime. My administrator noted that she had witnessed theft several times in her role and she stated that it was always the most innocent appearing employee that seemed to commit the unthinkable.  She seemed to pointedly look at me. Was she warning me? I seemed to walk the straight and narrow. Did she think I would stray? Social science dictates that there is a significant probability that I would.

Our society and governing bodies are generally reactive. That is to say, governing bodies, laws, and regulations are built in reaction to wrong-doings that those making the rules may have observed. Of course, if those making the regulations have their own interests in mind then the regulations may not be fair to all involved.  Our forefathers did not write our Constitution questioning themselves about whether future leaders may abuse power. They knew they would. Not because they were masters in human psychology, but because if they learned anything from history, it was that people will abuse power.

Liz Pullen, Sociologist, Ethnographer attempts to answer the question of abuse of power by individuals. In her article, she writes that “Even a well-intentioned, ‘good’ person can abuse power if they are unaware of the negative effects of their decisions.” Essentially she concludes that, “The only way power could be not corrupting of the individuals is to have checks and balances, whether that is a spouse who says, ‘You’re being too hard on the kids’ or legislators who want a President to justify sending troops into war.” 

She goes on to say that systems of checks and balances are necessary for without them, “it is dangerous for both individuals and the organizations for the leadership to be surrounded only by people who agree with everything that is said and done. Usually, the first order of business for tyrants is to remove, imprison or kill anyone who opposes their point of view.”

If you think that Pullen’s idea have some merit, then we should be sending applauses to both sides of current events in our great town of Mahomet.  The checks and balances are working. But let me stress: They are only working because the citizens of our community are paying attention on all counts.  Unpleasant truths are coming out on all sides. Imagine if every governing body had constituents as our town. Imagine if we had all paid closer attention to the actions of our governing bodies several years ago. 

 Source:  https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-abuse-power-when-they-get-it