DWIs and the Powers that Be

When does a title, money or power take precedence over what is right or over the rules that everybody else has to live by? Are there separate rules of behavior for some?

If you remember the story last year in Colorado about then, District Attorney John Newsome, then you remember that he wasn't removed from his position when confronted with charges of DWI. With many obvious factors being present, he was allowed to keep his job as DA. Only after the vote in November did he get ousted. Not by his Superiors but by Voters.

Now in the news in Colorado is:

Colorado Springs police arrested Sebasti Emma Adams, 30, after the car she was driving hit a curb hard enough to disable the vehicle, according to the spokesman Lt. David Whitlock.

Whitlock said police were first called by a witness who reported seeing a car run a red light and hit a curb near the on ramp headed towards S. I25New District Attorney
Dan May said Adams informed him of the incident within a few hours. May said he has asked for a special prosecutor to handle this case.

When Police Officers gave her a field sobriety test, Adams failed. She later underwent a blood test and Police are waiting for results. She was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence, careless driving and failure to provide proof of insurance. She was issued a TICKET and released.

Would someone else, who had ran a red light, hit the curb and failed the FST have been released with a ticket?

This ADA has been suspended with pay. The new DA for El Paso County is known for his tough stance on DWI's. He won on the premise that he was not going to allow this in his office.

Well.....I am wondering what will happen now? Are people who have positions treated differently than others?

In the last 5 years, I have made a point of documenting drinking and society habits and the allowances we make for people who are not regular people.

Across the country this is happening. The very people who put others in jail or have the ability to alter others lives when they make a mistake, are the ones out there making huge ones themselves, without consequences or loss of position or respect. It is sort of the old adage of letting the fox watch the hen house.

Alcohol is an problem situation to begin with. I haven't ever known a case of getting drunk, to have been a profitable or pleasant experience. However, since I don't drink, I am probably tainted.

When the people who are in charge or are playing as though they are, don't have to answer or continue to be irresponsible, how can they continue to judge everybody else? This ADA in Colorado was active in the prosecution of the old woman who ran over two bicyclists here. She was drinking and driving, as well as using some sort of drugs. Should the ADA be exempt from the same type of system that prosecuted that old woman?

People who are government, law enforcement, business owners and officials should be subject to the same problems that the regular person, who has been caught for DWI faces. Drunk doesn't discriminate because of a title or how much money you have. When you are drunk, you are drunk, no matter who you are. You are still irresponsible and have chosen to not call a cab or a friend and have cranked that vehicle up and put it on the highway. If you kill someone or hurt someone, they are still just as messed up, no matter the title or position of the person that did it.

What about the other people who were at the same event? This was a celebration of their successful conviction of a criminal. Did anybody call a cab or a friend? Or did they all climb in their cars and drive themselves home?

How many events, parties, celebrations are held on a daily basis, that at the end of that event, many people climb in their vehicles and drive home drunk as Cooter Brown? Many, many are people who have important jobs, plenty of money and important titles in the community.

How many of those events were sponsored by an employer who would fire or have fired an employee for getting a DWI? How many are people who get up the next day after luckily getting home drunk the night before and walk into a job that puts people in jail for the very same thing?

The Double Standard of this is sickening. Regular people get arrested for DWI and are treated like criminals for the rest of their lives.
Yet, fund raising events are held by employers for children's causes, that involve getting drunk and then leaving on your own. Prosecutors are going out celebrating putting people in jail for crimes, then get in their vehicles and commit a crime. Only if they don't get caught, they still sit in judgment of others.

Should our views on alcohol and driving be based on that? Should people who have other's lives in their hands, be promoting the gathering of alcohol accessible events, without the benefit of provided transportation?

What is the responsibility of employers who promote their employees attendance at alcohol related events? Should they be allowed to fire them when they get a DWI? Or be allowed to fire them for alcohol abuse if they have problems, when they promote participation? Do the Employers have alcohol issues themselves that get covered up because of their status in life?

When we see or hear a person who has these titles and position has gotten away with illegal activities but continue to judge others, should we be angry?

Alcohol activity should be a priority for these people. If they want the title or position, they should be held accountable when they mess up, just as the regular Joe would be. They should not condone having parties or events or after work drinks, unless they are going to make sure everybody gets home safe. If they themselves get caught, they should have to go through EXACTLY the SAME things others do all the way down to job loss and probation requirements.

Enough of different standards for different people. Enough of "I have money and power and can do what I want to" attitudes. We are all human and subject to screw ups. We should all have to answer the same way. Equally.

This ADA in Colorado, should be very ashamed of herself. She just put someone in jail for the same thing she got caught for. Yet she only got a ticket. Shame on You and on others who KNOW they are guilty of these same things. Shame on you for looking down your nose and laughing at others who got caught.

Take off you rose-colored classes and see what you are doing. Stop being hypocrites.....drunk is drunk is drunk. Title or money or power has nothing to do with it...