Responsibility Shift Highlights of the Year: Politicians and Cops Found Creative Ways to Dodge Responsibility in 2021, by Jacob Sullum

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During Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial last February, his lawyers argued that he was not responsible for the riot that interrupted the congressional count of Joe Biden’s electoral votes on January 6 because “the breach at the Capitol was scheduled several days in advance “. In their view, this meant the violence had nothing to do with Trump’s inflammatory speech that day, in which he urged his supporters to “fight like hell” and “stop the theft.” “.

This defense wiped out the months Trump spent promoting the fantasy that systematic electoral fraud robbed him of his rightful victory, which in itself was a vivid example of blame shifting. While it would be difficult to surpass the audacity of Trump’s double dodge, 2021 has seen some impressive attempts.

—A disease that causes fiscal incontinence

Congress and President Biden continued a federal debt-financed spending spree that began under the Trump administration. Although supporters of the $ 2 trillion American Rescue Plan Act blamed the coronavirus, most of the law’s provisions were only loosely linked to the pandemic.

—The price increase triggers an apology

Economists have warned that spending trillions of dollars on “emergency aid”, “stimulus” and “infrastructure” will fuel inflation, which in November hit 6.8%, the highest rate since 1982. Biden blamed the “profiteers” and said the solution was more spending.

– The spectator effect

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in April of murdering George Floyd by pinning him face down for nine and a half minutes, argued he was distracted by complaints from horrified passers-by who opposed its brutality. Although these witnesses were only armed with cell phones and never made violent threats, Chauvin’s attorney said they tricked Chauvin and his colleagues to “divert their attention from Mr. Floyd’s care. “.

—A fatal suicide intervention

Gabriel Eduardo Olivas sprayed himself with gasoline, but the cops finished the job. “If we pile it up,” an officer would exclaim, “it will catch fire! Ignoring this warning, two officers from Arlington, Texas started a fire that killed Olivas and burned down his house. Given the threat posed by the suicidal man, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled in February that a reckless response was reasonable.

—Driver’s liability coverage

Bonneville County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Deputy Wyatt Maser has died after Sgt. Randy Flegel accidentally hit him with a police car. Cops attempted to blame Jenna Holm, who had pulled off the road and allegedly threatened police with a machete, but was overpowered and lying on the ground by the time Flegel entered Maser, who was crossing the street to handcuff her. A judge dismissed the manslaughter charge against Holm in September.

– Voters must be bigots

Republican neophyte Glenn Youngkin’s upset victory in the Virginia gubernatorial election was prompted largely by anger at Democrat Terry McAuliffe’s stance that parents should not have a say in what their children learn in schools. public schools. Rather than heeding the frustration underlying that sentiment, McAuliffe and his supporters blamed racism.

– Drug warriors absolve themselves

As drug-related deaths reached record highs, politicians continued to blame opioid manufacturers, pharmacies and “transnational criminal organizations.” They seemed oblivious to their own role in making drug use more dangerous by forcing consumers to rely on black market products of unknown composition and pushing traffickers towards increasingly potent substances that are easier to make. smuggle.

—A privatized ban on abortion

SB 8, a Texas law that came into effect in early September, prohibits abortion after detection of fetal heart activity, but limits application to private civil actions, promising successful plaintiffs a bonus of 10,000 $ plus reimbursement of their legal fees. Chief Justice John Roberts has expressed dismay at this “unprecedented” attempt to evade pre-execution review by federal courts, asking “whether a state can shirk responsibility for its laws. in this way “. The answer turned out to be yes, and even conservatives who oppose abortion should be troubled by the implications.

Jacob Sullum is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine. Follow him on Twitter: @JacobSullum. To learn more about Jacob Sullum and read articles from other Creators Syndicate authors and designers, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: parameciorecords on Pixabay

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