Let's continue exploring the Allegory of the Clan, which is based on Plato's Allegory of the Cave. The main idea is simple: the more we examine a problem, the better we understand it. We also become more open to different ideas. Thinking independently is not always easy, especially when people have personal interests, money, or political agendas. Ideally, there should be only one goal: finding the truth and doing what is right.
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| (Illustrative Only) As a bizarre idea what if judges were required to affirm their oaths, social contracts to all citizens without making first or second class, and commitment to the Constitution ever few years. A reminder who the ultimate stakeholders are and partisanship should not creep into their decisions at least other things creep in with it. On issues of morality and law |
When people lose trust in a system and leaders fail to offer solutions, it may be a sign of a bigger problem. You have to watch the trends of the stats.
Time answers all questions.
Now imagine an oversight court that reviews serious constitutional violations by lower courts. Most decisions may be reasonable, but some may involve poor judgment, favoritism, or even corruption. The problem is that the oversight court cannot review every case. Some problems may never come to its attention. So the issue perpetuates without a solution and people learn to game the holes.
(One can argue if this is by intention or accident but it seems very much in the middle on purpose with a little of both.)
What happens when people are afraid to report wrongdoing? If they fear retaliation or believe nobody will help them, they may stay silent (...unless they understand the big picture, understand the sacrafice, and willing to fulfill their oaths to protect future victims.). As a result, problems continue, victims receive no help, and the system may never recognize how serious the situation has become.
Could independent reviewers help?
Perhaps retired judges, attorneys, and ordinary citizens could provide a fresh perspective. People outside an organization sometimes see problems that insiders overlook. Having different backgrounds and ways of thinking can help us ask better questions and find better solutions. We must always adapt upward.
This is also why playing Devil's Advocate is important. Sometimes we need someone willing to challenge our thinking and point out what we might be missing.
If wrongdoing is reported but nothing is done to correct it, that is a serious concern. If several people, or thousands or millions experience the same problem, there may be many others who are afraid to speak up (We want to derail collectivization as we have experienced in history.).
Let's assume most people involved are well-intentioned. Perhaps the problem is simply that senior leaders do not know what is happening at the ground level. Policies may be created with good intentions but applied differently by those responsible for carrying them out (The law, its outcome and purpose).
This brings us to an important question: Are we following the rules, or are we following the purpose behind them?
How can we improve the system? Maybe we need better communication, stronger oversight, independent reviews, and better protection for people who report problems. We should build checks and balances into the system rather than waiting for something to go wrong.
Here is the bigger question: How do we make sure justice matters more than simply following rules?
Laws are important, but they are not perfect. Rules can be misused, evidence can be ignored, and decisions can be influenced by personal, political, racial, or religious bias.
The law should serve justice, not replace it. We should always be willing to examine our laws and improve them when necessary.
What changes would help prevent wrongdoing, correct past mistakes, and protect people in the future?
Remember, this is a hypothetical exercise. We are not assuming that everything is broken or that there are no problems. Perhaps only a small percentage of cases involve serious failures. Even so, those failures deserve attention. Victims should have more rights than the perpetrators. You can agree, disagree, change or adust as long as you took the time to do that.
It looks like most systems have the following,
Active or retired judges with experience in different courts.
Practicing attorneys selected through professional organizations.
Ordinary citizens who can represent the community.
The goal is to improve system so the proof in pudding outcomes are the ones the stats dont always capture. (We should never allow the most manipulative, dishonest, and corrupt to be rewarded at our expense. If it happens in one place it can happen in others.). It is to recognize what works, identify what does not, and make improvements.
Could this same approach work in other organizations, businesses, or government institutions? Where else could independent oversight help improve accountability and protect people who might otherwise have no voice?
This is a learning exercise about recognizing problems and finding solutions. Institutions should be able to learn, adapt, and improve over time.
At the end of the day, the goal is simple: protect what works, fix what does not, and keep truth, fairness, and justice at the center of our decisions. That is how we make progress. If things feel a little off to you then probably are your subconscious is telling you not all things are functioning at their optimum and there is room for improvement. Nothing wrong with making systems stronger.
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