As Americans we are born into a society where we are raised to trust authority.  At an early age we learn to seek policemen or other law enforcement if we find ourselves in danger.  When I was a child I remember even being told to simply find an adult if I ever felt unsafe.  In any emergency there is always someone that comes to the rescue, whether it’s a fireman, policeman, or anyone else that has a great deal of authority.  Over time, the trust given to authority becomes so strong that our judgment of its decisions, right or wrong, can become cloudy.   So when do we begin to put too much faith in the protectors of our country?

It’s hard to find someone who hasn’t seen law enforcement television shows like “Dog the Bounty Hunter” or “Cops”.  These are shows where, without thinking, we immediately find ourselves rooting for the capture of the criminal, sometimes without even knowing what crime he or she committed.  We assume that if they are being chased by policemen they have committed a crime that is worthy of punishment.  It’s alright for people to put great trust in authority, but it is careless to believe they are incapable of submitting to their personal desires.  No matter what position a person holds, whether it is a policeman, teacher, or the president of the United States, all have weaknesses that may lead them to make unjust decisions.

There are many movies that touch on the idea of corruption in the government and they all seem to take a similar standpoint.  In the Bourne movies, the government attempts to kill the assassin Jason Bourne to cover up the events of top-secret Operation Blackbriar.  In Shooter, Gunnery Sergeant Bob Lee Swagger is framed in the assassination of a national leader, a leader who is killed to cover up the genocide of an African village, which was needed in order for an oil line to run through the land.  But the United States wouldn’t do that in reality would they?  There are an abundance of other films that explore government corruption like Manchurian Candidate, JFK, All the President’s Men, Brazil, Conspiracy Theory, Full Metal Jacket, Enemy of the State, The Insider, etc.  Even though most of these are fictional stories of corrupt government, they outline the tendency of government to make decisions based on the allure of greed and power.  One of our founding fathers and president, John Adams, once said that, “human nature had an intractable darkness, and powerful men were vainglorious and in search of more power.”

Whether people want to believe it or not, there is corruption anytime power or money becomes involved.  As humans we are greedy and power-hungry by nature.   As citizens of a free nation like the United States, it is crucial to the success of the country that we question authority.  Authority that is not questioned can lead to absolute power.  When the United States began its “War on Terror”, most people didn’t even question our invasion of the Middle East.  Seven years later, the public is becoming a little skeptical about the decision.  As a nation it is our duty to understand the motives of the government before they are able to proceed and take action.

The government and law-enforcers rely greatly on building our trust through the use of the media.  They constantly pat themselves on the back for capturing terrorists, arresting criminals, and saving people’s lives.  By showing these positive reflections of the government, they gain more trust from the people.  Instead of wondering what they are doing behind the scenes, we assume that everything is going as smooth as it shows on the nightly news.  The reason they release so many victorious stories is so they can blind the people of their misdeeds that at times go unnoticed.  The most recent scandal involved former Governor Blagojevich of Illinois, who allegedly tried to auction off President Obama’s seat in the United States Senate so he could make a little extra cash.  Then there are the incidents of elected officials utilizing their time in office by satisfying their personal desires like Governor Spitzer of New York, who was caught making contact with prostitutes. These are real instances where government officials, elected by American citizens, have abused their power in the name of greed and personal gain.  How do we allow ourselves to sit back and watch these people run our country? 

As a nation we need to start being more active in our government’s affairs and remember that the temptation for power is great.  Even though it doesn’t seem like cops could ever be the villain in a high-speed car chase, you can’t assume that they are honest just because they are the ones doing the chasing.  Similarly, the government may try to distract Americans by emphasizing other hazards like terrorists and criminals, but we must remember that they have the ability to become an even greater threat than our most dangerous foes. It’s crucial that we question the actions of our leaders, because these individuals hold the success of our country in their hands.  As a country we need to know who is in office and remember not to turn our backs on the actions of those who hold great power.  A democracy relies on the ability of the people to get involved and take action, so what are we waiting for?