Krish Patel - Week #9 - Power in Government
Many Americans often view our legal system as the best or the least corrupt in the entire world. However, this is a dangerous misconception as it leads to innocent people, who were mistakenly convicted of crimes or abused by the power of police officers or courts, look like they are part of the “slums of society.”
There have been many cases of abuses of power from the Youtube videos of police officers misusing their power to conduct unreasonable checks to court bribes that violate an individual’s right to a fair trial. An example is the torturing, kidnapping and detention of numerous prisoners that the American government deems as a means to protect national security.
Throughout American history there have been countless scandals such as the Watergate scandal where the infamous President Richard Nixon and his administration engaged in some questionable methods to ensure his reelection. Another example is the supposed Benghazi scandal which the US government tried to conduct in order to have an excuse to send troops to Libya in order to “secure” the area from terrorists. A thorough investigation showed that there were no bombshells or evidence of an attack which opened the door to many speculations on if the government was keeping secrets from the people.
The point I am trying to get at here is the idea that just because you are given power, it does not mean you should take advantage of it or abuse other people with it. Like Aunt May and Uncle Ben said from Spider Man “With great power comes great responsibility” in order to ensure that no one abuses it. The same goes with our seemingly innocent and almighty government. Power has been dedicated to specific individuals who have misused it for personal benefit. Our system is built on a balance of power with the “checks and balances,” yet some people find a way to get around it for personal motives.
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that it is unbiased and using its power for legal and morally just reasons. There should be checks to maintain the integrity of police officers and outside organizations to investigate suspicious cases in the government to ensure a just and fair government.
6 Basic Principles, https://www.haikudeck.com/6-basic-principles-alicia-cisneros-erik-briones-oscar-contreras-education-presentation-8vL7IW76ZL, Accessed on 12 Jan. 2025.
Hi Krish! I agree that the misuse of power among those in authority is a dangerous yet common issue in today’s society. It was actually my first time hearing some of the examples you listed like the Benghazi scandal, but it allowed me to understand the severity of this issue now and the different motives/creative ways in which the government abuses power. In addition to the examples you provided, another major example that comes to my mind is the murder of George Floyd. It caused grief from all over the world, but it was also a catalyst in raising awareness by bringing global attention to the flaws in the U.S. police system. The quote you mentioned from Spider Man is a good message that summarizes your blog!
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