Many of us prior to the advent of cellphones had the experience and fun of joining in on neighborhood games as children. Games like hide and seek, tag, kick the can and hop scotch to name but a few. These games were played after school, on weekends, and lasted until the street lights came on or when our parents called us home. These games were democratically comprised of boys and girls of all ages. The games had rules and were occasionally modified by group consensus. If rules were violated, admonishments and consequences would follow. Understanding and abiding by the rules kept our games fun, fair, and just. Little did we know that the games we played as children were a paradigm on how a civilized democracy is organized to maintain order and fairness.

We learn about rules and consequences in other places as well: in the home, our community, at school, and in sports. Of course, not everyone “got the memo” on rules and consequences. There are some who feel the rules don’t apply to them. They use their wealth, influence, and slick attorneys to skirt the law and avoid facing consequences.

Following the conviction of Donald Trump’s fraudulent business practices, Attorney General Letitia James made these comments:

“Today, justice has been served. This is a tremendous victory for the state, this nation, and for everyone who believes that we must play by the same rules — even the presidents. For years Donald Trump engaged in massive fraud to falsely inflate his net worth and unjustly enrich himself, his family, and his organization. While he may have authored ‘the Art of the Deal,’ our case revealed that his business was based on the art of the steal.”

She continues, “When powerful people cheat to get better deals, it comes at the expense of honest and hardworking people. Everyday Americans cannot lie to a bank to get a mortgage to buy a home … There simply cannot be different rules for different people.”

She concluded, “Now, Donald Trump is finally facing accountability for his lying, cheating and staggering fraud. Because no matter how big, rich or powerful you might think you are, no one is above the law.”

Come November the character of our nation is on the ballot. Let’s be able to tell our children with a straight face: “winners never cheat and cheaters never win.”

Phil Keyes

Baraga