Ingroup justice

The House of Representatives formally censured Rep. Charles Rangel (D - New York) for evading Federal taxes, filing false Federal forms, lying to investigators, misusing rent-controlled housing and several other infractions. There has been a lot of debate on the net and among news commentators about whether his punishment was not enough, too much, or just right.  It seems to me a reasonable way to make this judgment is to ask what would happen to an ordinary person like you or me who was found to have evaded Federal taxes, provided false information on required Federal forms, misused rent-controlled housing, and lied to Federal investigators. Would we have just gotten a public ten minute dressing down?  I don't think so.  I think we would have faced prosecution, fines and even perhaps jail time. 

It isn't particularly surprising that an in-group protects its own (and Congress is certainly an in-group). But it is surprising that they are so brazen about it.  Personally I think Representative Rangle should have been  thrown out of Congress for his misdeeds.   He certainly would have been thrown out of any private company for similar misdeeds.  But then Congress, while always ready to demonize others over their misdeeds, has always held itself to a much lower standard.  Why do we, the voting public, let them get away with it?