Behind the Veil of US President Joe Biden
The trust that American citizens give their elected officials depends on their belief that the system works on their behalf, not just the interests of powerful groups or individuals.
Introduction
The faith of American citizens in their government's democratic institutions is vital to the political system's transparency and functionality. However, allegations of corruption and conflicts of interest, such as those made against Hunter and Joe Biden regarding their connections to Ukrainian energy company Burisma, undermine the public's trust in elected officials' motives and the integrity of the government's democratic institutions. This leads American citizens to question whether their elected officials prioritize their personal interests over the public's well-being, and the purported democratic system's fairness and equality come under scrutiny.
"Veil Maximum"
Adam Smith provides a compelling warning, in his concept of the "veil maximum" which is a reference to the idea that we cannot accurately judge a person's true motives or intentions simply by their appearance or public display. Specifically, Smith argued that we can never fully know the thoughts and intentions of another person until we have personally experienced the conditions under which they operate. In other words, he believed that people are inherently influenced by their personal circumstances, and that we must account for this reality in order to make fair and informed judgments about them.
This idea was closely related to Smith's larger philosophical views on human nature and the prevailing political and economic conditions of his time. Smith was a close contemporary of fellow philosopher David Hume, and both men shared a belief in the fundamentally selfish nature of human beings. Both men argued that people are naturally incentivized to pursue their own self-interest, even at the expense of others. However, while Hume saw this as a reason to be skeptical of political authority and centralized power, Smith believed that a free market system could harness this natural self-interest in a positive way, leading to greater prosperity for all.
The concept of the "veil maximum," serves as a warning to this belief in a free market system, insofar as such a system requires an accurate understanding of what motivates individuals. Smith was aware of the potential for corruption and dishonesty in economic transactions, which was epitomized by the merchant ships of his time. By hiding the true nature of their goods in order to get higher prices, these merchants were able to benefit at the expense of their customers. Smith recognized that this kind of behavior was endemic to human nature and warned against the potential for corruption in all areas of life.
The corruption in today's political and economic system
Today, we see such corruption in politics. The Biden's and Clinton's, for example, have been accused of taking advantage of their positions in government to benefit themselves financially. This kind of corruption is precisely what Smith warned against, and it threatens the very foundation of a fair and just society.
Political corruption can manifest in different ways, such as insider trading, embezzlement, bribery, or cronyism. When people in power abuse their authority for personal gain, they not only violate ethical norms but also undermine trust in institutions and erode public confidence in the rule of law.
In the case of the Biden's and Clinton's, the accusations of corruption mainly stem from their alleged ties to foreign countries, such as China or Russia, and their supposed involvement in shady business deals or political favors. While these claims are still subject to legal and factual scrutiny, they raise concerns about how public officials can balance their public duties with their private interests.
The allegations against President Biden
There have been allegations made against US President Joe Biden by the United States House Oversight Committee regarding his alleged involvement in his family’s foreign business practices and international influence peddling schemes. The investigation is ongoing and the FBI has agreed to allow all members of the House Oversight Committee access to a redacted document claiming Joe Biden was involved in a pay to play scheme.
It is being reported that Freeh is in fact the subject of the FBI document FD-1023. According to new emails from Hunter Biden’s verified laptop, former FBI director Louis Freeh gave $100,000 to a trust for Joe Biden’s grandchildren and worked with his son to help a corrupt Romanian dodge jail time.
What are the allegations related to?
The allegations made against Hunter and Joe Biden pertain to their involvement with the Ukrainian energy company, Burisma. Hunter Biden was appointed to Burisma's board of directors in 2014, while his father, Joe Biden, was Vice President of the United States.
Hunter Biden, has admitted him self in a 60 minutes interview, that he was given the position on the board as a result of his father's influence. Burisma would have been using Hunter to curry favor with the US government. Others have accused Hunter Biden of using his position to enrich himself and his family, or of engaging in corrupt activities.
There is mounting evidence to support these allegations of corruption by the Bidens. Biden has been accused by some of using his position as Vice President to pressure the Ukrainian government to fire Ukraine's top prosecutor, who was investigating Burisma for alleged wrongdoing. Biden's critics allege that he intervened in order to protect his son, who was on the board of the company.
The Damage this is having on the US political system
What does Leviathan say about politics and society? Hobbes proposed that the natural basic state of humankind is one of anarchy, with the strong dominating the weak. Life for most people, he said, was 'solitary, poore, nasty, brutish and short'. Therefore, our one natural right is self-preservation.
These accusations have led many Americans to question the integrity of their political system and the elected officials who represent them. The damage to the trust and faith that American citizens have in their government is immeasurable, and it is a dangerous path for the country to take.
One significant consequence of these allegations is the damage it brings to the "veil of maximum ignorance" or "the original position John Rawls " concept introduced by philosopher John Rawls respectively. This principle adheres to the idea that individuals who do not know their particular place in society or the circumstances that await them are more likely to make unbiased decisions that benefit the greater good. In this context, Rawls proposed that when negotiating matters in a democratic society, elected officials should act under the "veil of ignorance John ," without considering their personal interests, past allegiances, or motives relevant to their positions.
The accusations against the Bidens reveal elected officials who prioritize their personal interests over public priorities, leading American citizens to question their government's credibility. In addition, it caused a considerable decrease in the public's faith in the legal system. The public can not trust a political system where elected officials use their power and influence to advance their personal interests at the expense of constitutional values.
Another result of this controversy is the potential effect on the balance of power between different branches of government. When elected officials prioritize self-interest over the public good, it creates a dangerous precedent where the balance of power is significantly skewed towards the government's executive branch. Such examples include allegations that the White House manipulated the Department of Justice to investigate the Trump, which could be used to sought influence on the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election.
Combating Corruption
While people in power or those who hold valuable resources may try to conceal their true intentions or interests behind a veil of secrecy or manipulation. This can make it difficult for others to identify or challenge any wrongdoing, as those in power may use their influence to avoid scrutiny or accountability.
To combat this kind of corruption, it is essential to recognize the prevalence of the "veil maximum" and take steps to hold people accountable for their actions. This means promoting transparency in all sectors of society, including politics, and business, and creating systems of checks and balances to ensure that those in power are held accountable for their actions.
We need to encourage a culture of ethical behavior and integrity, where people are rewarded for honesty, fairness, and good governance. This means creating incentives and disincentives for those who act in ways that are contrary to the public interest and ensuring that our legal systems are robust enough to respond to cases of corruption and misconduct.
In the end, a just and equitable society is one where power and privilege are distributed fairly and transparently, and where all individuals can hold each other accountable for their actions. Only by recognizing the prevalence of the "veil maximum" can we begin to build a society that prioritizes justice and equity for all.
What needs to change?
For the US political system to work transparently, the public needs to have faith in the government's democratic institutions. The trust that American citizens give their elected officials depends on their belief that the system works on their behalf, not just the interests of powerful groups or individuals. When the public witnesses elected officials prioritizing personal interests and self-serving agendas, it undermines the public's faith in the system that is supposed to represent them.
The constitutional powers of Congress
Congress has the constitutional power to address the allegations made against Joe Biden and ensure that the government's democratic institutions operate transparently. Using their powers of investigation, hearings, subpoena, and legislation, Congress can scrutinize Joe Biden's actions, detect any potential conflicts of interest, investigate possible corruption or wrongdoing, and increase transparency in government activities.
For example, Congress could investigate the allegations made against Joe Biden concerning his supposed involvement in the Burisma controversy. Through their investigatory power, Congress can scrutinize Joe Biden's actions regarding the alleged use of his position to pressure the Ukrainian government into firing a prosecutor who was investigating Burisma.
Additionally, Congress could request Joe Biden's testimony and those involved in the controversy about the nature of their relationship with Burisma. This would help to identify any conflicts of interest and assess whether Joe Biden or his son, Hunter, used their positions for personal gain.
The goal of Congress is to pass legislation which ensures transparency and accountability in government activities. This could include reviewing or reforming laws governing lobbying, ethics, and campaign finance to prevent conflicts of interest and increase public oversight.
Congress' main tool is their ability to control government funding to increase transparency in the executive branch's activities, including investigating the allegations made against Joe Biden concerning Burisma.
Congress must use the constitutional powers at their disposal to address the allegations against Joe Biden. Through these mechanisms, they must be utilized to ensure transparency in government activities, promote accountability, and uphold the trust and faith that American citizens have in their elected officials and the democratic institutions designed to represent them.
Conclusion
For the US political system to work transparently, the public needs to have faith in the government's democratic institutions. The trust that American citizens give their elected officials depends on their belief that the system works on their behalf, not just the interests of powerful groups or individuals. When the public witnesses elected officials prioritizing personal interests and self-serving agendas, it undermines the public's faith in the system that is supposed to represent them.
The allegations against Hunter and Joe Biden with reference to Burisma are harmful to the US political system and the trust American citizens have in their government. By prioritizing personal interests, elected officials cause a loss of trust in the system that is supposed to represent the people. The public's faith in their government's democratic institutions is crucial in any democratic system, and the influence of vested interests on these institutions is a serious threat to democracy. As John Rawls warned, when elected officials prioritize self-interest, the "veil of maximum ignorance" concept crumbles, and the fairness of the democratic system comes under scrutiny.
I enjoyed your references to Smith and Hobbes. Recognizing Keynesian economics as a fraud is paramount to understanding our current situation. When one contradicts Adam Smith he commits an error. Leviathan is one of my favorite books from 25 years ago. I found it to be funny and not that difficult to read, when you get used to the old spellings and weird capitalizations. He has a clipped turn of phrase that I found accessible. It's easier to read Hobbes than much of the produce of the 18th and 19th centuries. In fact, I prefer the 17th century in literature and music (if it ain't baroque, don't fix it).
Brilliantly written