I agree with both your posts, but I was trying to make a distinction between the "real world" and what appears to be the practices of the government and their agencies. I believe time will show that even crimes against humanity are not punishable so long as you are coming from a position of strength. This position is further reinforced by the fact that the US has withdrawn from several international treaties, as it did not suit the government's purpose.

I believe what many travelers experience is what I refer to as "s... rolling down hill". If the most powerful people in the government can behave in a certain fashion, than one can certainly behave the same. Of course there are rare exceptions, with the majority ocurring in the military. There have been several examples of late where the "guys in the trenches" are punished while their superiors remain unscathed.

Truman's principle that "the buck stops here" no longer appears to be in fashion. Those of us who are in positions of authority (i.e. bosses, etc) set the tone of an organization by example. I have experienced and witnessed this axion at work many many times, both in a positive and negative context.