Corporations emerging as new moral authority

As a society, we struggle with drawing moral lines in the sand. It's no easy task, especially when politics is involved. 

Take, for example, the troubling case of Roy Moore, a former United States judge who is running for Senate. 

He's been accused of sexual misconduct and advances by no fewer than eight women at the time of writing. One of the accusers says she was 14 when she was sexually abused by the man, at the time in his thirties. 

Because these alleged incidents occurred so long ago (in the 1970s), there's no longer any legal recourse based on U.S. laws. It's up to the public to decide, and, so far, he still has plenty of supporters. 

The rush to defend Moore is troubling for most of us to comprehend, particularly since his accusers had no political motivation to come out with their stories. They were asked by journalists if they would be willing to finally make their stories public. Given the sudden, tidal change in our societal attitudes toward sexual assault survivors and the Me Too campaign, which has given women an opportunity like never before to be heard, it probably felt right to come out at this time. 

It's unfortunate it took this long, but as Bill Cosby's accusers would agree, their voices would have been all but silenced a few short years ago. 

In the case of any alleged crime, it's important to look at the evidence and to consider the sources. But when there's more than one woman coming out, let alone eight (over 50 in the case of Cosby), it only strengthens their case. 

Industry has chosen to move quickly and decisively in light of such allegations. Corporations in 2017 are making moral judgments like the church of the Middle Ages, firing and ex-communicating prominent individuals (Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey), sending them to their personal purgatory of insignificance and unemployment. 

Not only are they emerging as a new moral authority, they've become the defacto justice system. They've chosen not to wait for an archaic, ineffective court system where the O.J. Simpsons of the world can buy their innocence. 

But in the political realm, it's a different story. Politicians, to reference the U.S. president's words, can seemingly get away with murder. Bill Clinton was accused of rape before he became president (a blip on the radar at the time). Donald Trump won the presidency despite the numerous accusations against him. There was a line in the sand that both men crossed, but one that was quickly overlooked by the electorate. 

There's a shocking willingness to put on the moral blinders when it comes to advancing political agendas. The governor of Alabama said she supports Moore because he is a Republican, even though she has "no reason to disbelieve" any of the women accusers. In other words, political power at all cost, even if it means accepting a few child molesters into the Senate.  

The religious excuses are even worse. I've heard more than once that Moore's constituents forgive him "because God forgives." The most obvious fault in this logic is that Moore has not even confessed his wrongs. Even if he did, does that give one a clean slate to run for Senate?

Too often than not, our forgiveness depends on our political views. It happens on all sides of the political spectrum. 

The moral line in the sand keeps shifting.