Throughout much of human history and it’s stages of civilization, it is noteworthy how inevitable the evolution comes about of the idea of liberty which has led to the debasement of the idea of authority. As particular authorities have become suspect, so also has the very idea of authority. When deprived of legitimacy, of any presumption of right, authority is reduced to nothing more than the exercise of power or force. This has been observable at nearly every level of authority, from parents to national governments. This is when--as Lord Acton once put it--power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

When authority loses it’s presumption of right, its subjects submit only to the force of authority rather than to the logic of authority. Through this stage of degeneration of a civilization, those in authority constantly clamor to rationalize an ideal to sustain their legitimacy through the rationale of attempting to "impose order on chaos." This is best served through the media of "law and order" platforms acted out by polished profesionals and politicians.

When Corrections Departments in criminal Justice systems across our country abandoned the concept of rehabilitation in favor of the concept of punishment and retaliation, it sought to serve only one segment of our society.. .those concerned with revenge masquerading as justice. Unfortunately, this seems to hit the mark with an increasing number of America’s public after years of media—hype about crime being "everywhere; it’s everywhere!" In gaining control of the "masses," there is nothing more effective than in inciting a vigilante spirit where us "good guys" are going to get even with the "bad guys." However, only those in power may determine who the "good guys" are going to be, as well as the "bad...