It's been disgusting to note the multiple double standards in full effect in America over the last two weeks as the Anthony Weiner non-sex "sex scandal" has flashed itself in front of nearly every media outlet in the nation.
It's obvious that one set of people - congresspersons, televangelists, sports and entertainment stars - can make horrible personal mistakes, and be crucified by the media in ways that make Pontius Pilate look like an amateur. These same people - who have done nothing legally wrong, by the way - can then go to resort-style "Treatment Centers" and come out a short time later "cured" of whatever personal failing they were convicted of, in the court of public opinion.
The rest of us, of course, if we find ourselves in a similar situation, merely have to face the chin music of our spouses when we get home.
It should be obvious that these actions have set up a separate and unequal system of injustice in America - both for those who are digitally tarred and feathered, as well as for the rest of us.
Now, our description of this tiered system may have brought a smile or smirk to your face - but the attitude of the entitled is nothing to laugh about.
In Wisconsin, that attitude is about to start a statewide civil war.
In case you missed it, the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a decision led by a judge who is a former head of that state's Republican Party, handed extremist right-wing Governor Scott Walker a victory on Tuesday. That happened when the court overturned the stay on the unconstitutional union-killing bill passed under shady circumstances in the Wisconsin Legislature.
If this decision stands, as it appears it will, not only will workers in Wisconsin no longer have the right to organize for fair wages and benefits. The state's GOP is also set to roll back child labor laws, wipe out protections for renters (both private and commercial), and turn the public school system into a private, voucher-based system (albeit, paid for with public tax dollars). Even small beer brewers are being attacked.
We feel the need to remind you, dear reader, that we do not support or recommend violence as a means to redress one's grievances, even with actions as heinous as those happening in Wisconsin.
That being said, the actions behind these attitudes - those of Wisconsin's extremist, regressive Republicans - are ones that will not likely end well for people on any side of this conflict.
A rash of recall elections has been scheduled for this summer and fall - and it's nearly certain that Democratic and Republican candidates will even be running in each other's primary elections. Millions of dollars is expected to flow into the state from outside sources.
The state has become a laughing stock, and we've had more than one contact tell us businesses are beginning to leave. Meanwhile the Republican Party continues to become fully engaged in an ideological war of words and legal maneuvers against their Democratic counterparts that may yet turn into actual fist fights - or worse.
As our friend and colleague John Nichols said recently, "it is not too late for responsible Republicans... to reject the crude pay-to-play politics that Walker and the Fitzgeralds have imported from outside Wisconsin."
We hope that he's right.
As a wise Republican President once said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
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