Saturday, May 18, 2013

The Abuse of Power

The Abuse of Power

Written on Thursday, May 16, 2013 by
The legal dictionary defines the abuse of power as “the improper use of authority by someone who has that authority because he or she holds a public office.”

The business dictionary defines the abuse of power as “the act of using one’s position of power in an abusive way, such as taking advantage of someone or gaining access to information that shouldn’t be accessible to the public, or just manipulating someone with the ability to punish them if they don’t comply.”

When I think of people who let their positions over others become abusive I first think of people like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. Then next I think of other evil men such as Josef Fritzl of Austria who held his daughter a prisoner for 24 years and of other cases of child abuse and incest, spousal abuse, and also abuse by clergy. I think of a man who whips his horse and kicks his dog. Amongst the list of abusers of power I would also include people like Gosnell who thought he had the right to take life. Next I think of the political abuse of power in the history of our own country with sad events such as the removal of the Cherokee Indians of the South East, many of whom had attempted to adapt to the ways of the settlers and were farming their ground and living in log homes and learning to read and write prior to their long trek to Oklahoma in the Trail of Tears. The sad list of abuses by those in power in our own country is long. Though not as horrendous the list also includes President’s Andrew Johnson, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon, however not one of these three men’s abuse of their power directly caused the loss of life. We do have today in our country leaders who have abused their power to the degree of causing the loss of life. The selling of arms with Fast and Furious and then Benghazi both caused loss of life.

Many of our leaders of our country today will one future day be found listed in history along with those who have abused their power. The IRS targeting individuals who believe in being conservative and our governments’ intrusion upon the privacy of the media are also prime examples of abuse of power. The current attempt to remove our right to bear arms and to dictate our health care coverage is also abusive use of power. We the American people have a right to not be abused by those in power over us. Soon the American people will have to come to terms with the American Care Act (ACA) which is full of regulations which feel heavy, burdensome, and abusive.

In our country now we have leaders who are being abusive. When Kathleen Sebelius, the current Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) chooses to enforce coverage for contraceptive devices and morning after pills then her name will be added to the list of abusive leaders.

“On January 20, 2012, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, announced that the insurance plans provided for women by most employers must cover the cost of all FDA-approved contraceptive devices with no co-pay. This includes coverage for the IUD, sterilization procedures and ella, “the morning after pill.” Churches and other places of worship would be exempt from having to cover contraception for their employees if they morally object to the practice. However, all other organizations will have to comply with the new requirement by August 2013, even if they are religiously affiliated. While the right of conscience afforded the direct care providers remains intact, the right of conscience of the sponsors of religiously affiliated organizations is categorically denied.
Pursuant to the ACA and the DHHS’s Final Rule, no healthcare institution is required to offer any medical procedures that they have previously refused to do. No form of surgical abortion must be provided or insured. That is not the concern here. The issue is solely a right of conscience violation because it pertains to mandated insurance coverage that violates the conscience of those being forced to pay for the insurance. To bring other issues into play merely dilutes the valid argument. The “right to choose” should include the right to say no to objectionable practices. Otherwise, it is not a matter of choice.”

http://www.networklobby.org/legislation/update-decision-contraception-coverage
I have already added President Obama’s name to my list of those who abuse power. One day we may find ourselves feeling like the people of Cyprus who have had their pockets picked by government. I hope not, but I and many Americans have figured out the character of our current president and are concerned.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

The thought of the IRS handling Obama Care is pretty frightening. The reach of power could be endless. A commenter named Fritzie made a good statement: “When people obtain political power, it has a way of making them think they’re much smarter than they really are. There are also the laws of unintended consequences. When a set of regulations, taxes, and penalties as complex as ACA is imposed, there is just no way anyone can anticipate how people will react to it. Suppose doctors learn how to help their patients by entering bogus information into the system, for example. The ACA is a real mess.”

Another commenter named Jollie3 posted, “The attacks from conservatives are not on people or a person. They are on ACTIONS that are illegal, dishonest, unconstitutional and destructive. Democrats, especially those who follow Saul Alinsky’s instructions, attack PEOPLE. But then, they can’t attack actions and ideas that are sound. They have nothing else to attack. The IRS opened this can of worms at the instruction of Obama. They are desperate for a diversion from the Benghazi investigation and believe that they can escape being tagged with culpability for this breach of trust. Sen. Baucus, who CALLED FOR THE IRS to do this very thing back in 2010, is NOW outraged and going to hold an investigation. This is a ploy to prevent anyone else from holding an investigation. And Baucus already has the final report written. It will say that, “Obama is not guilty.” Don’t let him get away with that either.”

I agree with both of the above commenters and I agree with Jean de La Fontaine who said, “Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.”

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