Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Lazy Brownies
You have seen it a gazillion times: some person who has climbed the ladder of success suddenly believes that he or she is immune to the laws, rules, and customary acceptable behaviors of society. Their psyche is one of someone who is untouchable, infallible, or just plain godlike. Having so much to lose and even more to live for, these arrogant beliefs eventually become their weakness.
This is not an issue exclusive of individuals.We also see it in the activities of certain corporate and government organizations. For example, the folks at Lazy Cakes are catching a little heat for their innovated spin on an age old hippy recipe. I predict that they eventually will need to change the name of the product to “Please don’t let your kids have this brownie.” It never fails, when you start messing with someone’s kids, you’re going to get a little market correction tossed at your corporate attorneys. Bank on it!
Although it’s quite sad that innocent people, institutions, and the like are often casualties of these indiscretions, we should hold off before shouting, “there should be a law against that. Legal systems that prize individual liberties must always maintain laws that are reactive, not proactive. Proactive laws are anticipatory in nature, and unfortunately, no one, at least to my knowledge, can predict the future.
From Napoleon to Hitler; from Nixon to Strauss-Kahn, they all have fallen and will continue to fall. Call it Karma, idiocy, or whatever. When you get too big for your britches, you’re going to screw it up…I promise you. It never fails! The market or political institution will always realign and push you out.
Back before New Media, the internet, and social networking, one could “get away” with a little sexual harassment or even making “magic” desserts without large print warnings on the label. Today, however, one key stroke can ruin you. Your behavior is amplified by the immediate availability of information, so if you don’t like playing by the rules, society is going to insure the demise of your career, business and even your personal life.
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