Graffagnino: It’s now the not-so-Supreme Court
Peter Graffagnino is a resident of Bridgeville.
What has become of the Supreme Court, specifically Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito? These two individuals bring dishonor to “the court.”
Let’s go back in time to 1991. Clarence Thomas worked with a woman named Anita Hill. She testified at his confirmation hearing. Ms. Hill spoke about Mr. Thomas and his inappropriate sexual advances toward her while in the workplace. The committee ignored her comments and appointed Thomas to “the court” anyway. Why? One can only speculate. It is interesting because there is another seated male Supreme Court justice at this very point in time who also had a woman come forward with similar complaints during his confirmation hearing. Do we see a pattern here? It seems that whichever political party is in power can get its choice for “the court” pushed through regardless of any individuals that give testimony to potential criminal acts!
Recently, Thomas complained that he and others who sit on “the court” may leave their positions because of poor yearly salaries. If memory serves — and I am unsure of the exact amount — I believe it to be in the range of $175,000 a year. Thomas recently stated that he was deeply in debt because of his minimal salary. I find that hard to believe, since his wife has a very successful “consulting” firm. By coincidence, her best clients appear to be associated with a specific politically motivated group. Go figure! Further, let’s not forget what happened to Roe v. Wade under this Supreme Court — by all accounts, a politically partisan decision.
Not to worry, Justice Thomas! Mr. Deep Pockets Billionaire is here to help. One little detail, however: Mr. Deep Pockets had business before “the court.” Of course, Justice Thomas recused himself because of the lavish gifts that Mr. Deep Pockets bestowed to him and his family members! For example, a home to one individual family member, a $350,000-plus RV, lavish vacations on Mr. Deep Pockets’ yacht, paying the college tuition for a family member of Justice Thomas and who knows what else? Well, not so fast. Justice Thomas didn’t recuse himself. Interesting! Likewise, he never reported any of these “gifts” on a required financial disclosure form. Who can blame him? Those forms are very complicated and almost impossible to complete accurately. Let’s give him a bye regarding all the aforementioned. Please!
Let’s not forget Justice Alito! He likes to go fishing. There is a great picture of Justice Alito holding up his catch, along with his fishing buddies, in front of a seaplane. Doesn’t everybody who goes fishing have a seaplane at their disposal? How nice! One little glitch: He was flown to his favorite fishing spot by his own Mr. Deep Pockets! He stayed at a wonderful lodge, which charged $1,000 a night, then sipped wine with dinner that cost $1,000 a bottle and never had to open his own wallet for anything. I wonder what he was using for bait! You would think that a man who is such a good fisherman would be able to raise the American flag right side up. Oh, and let’s not forget that other flag at his family beach house. I know I am always very careful with my flags at both my residence and at my beach house! Wait a minute, that’s incorrect. I don’t own a beach house. I must be doing something wrong.
I don’t have an answer for behavior like this. These people are “above the law” by design. There is one thing for sure. People, even those on the highest court of the land, cannot be trusted to respect their positions when it comes to selling their responsibilities to the highest bidder! They work the system for their own benefit, to the extreme. Since they are “above the law,” maybe the IRS should audit them to see if they have reported all their little fringe benefits to that institution. Probably not. Those IRS forms are even more complicated than the financial disclosure forms the justices are supposed to report. And Justices Thomas and Alito work so very hard posing for pictures with their colleagues. Who can expect them to report such particulars?
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
