America, that bright, shining land of freedom, opportunity, and progress, is irredeemably corrupt.  It is in the hands of debased and hypocritical politicians, judges, businessmen, and their servants, such as the debauched Hollywood film maker Jack Woltz, the belligerent New York police captain Mark McCluskey, the rapacious Las Vegas gambler Moe Greene, and the contemptible Nevada senator Pat Geary, who are motivated by the desire for wealth and power.  None of these men exercises self-control.  All are driven by lust, anger, greed, vanity, and prejudice, easily losing their tempers and getting unnecessarily carried away.  Unless he has power, or has powerful friends, a man who finds himself in such a depraved and perilous world is alone, isolated and vulnerable.  In America, it’s every man for himself.  Conflicts are resolved according to the strict letter of the law, which is considered the ultimate arbiter of legitimacy and truth.  If one prevails at law, then nothing more is required.  One is innocent, or is at least legally blameless.  Yet, for the victims, this system does not yield probity or righteousness any more than it promotes responsibility and moderation among those clever enough to exploit the law to secure their own advantage.  All pretense to the contrary notwithstanding, America has only the letter of the law,  formal, cold, abstract, and still America has no objective legal standard that applies equally to everyone.  That is why for justice men must go on their knees to Don Corleone. [Read more...]