Yesterday, we learned that Ryan Braun really was using performance enhancing drugs AKA PEDs. This really comes at no shock. He was busted back in 2012 due to a failed drug test. He appealed it and won because someone in the process mishandled his specimen. He didn’t just decide to lay low. He had a press conference and made a statement about how he was the victim and truth was on his side. In the end we have learned he was not on the side of truth.
If we look at cheating in America, we know that it happens far too often and not just in sports. We can all look at Braun and chastise him. While many people are doing that very thing, there people out there that are also at the point of indifference. It’s what our society had become, indifferent.
Why are we indifferent to cheating? Partially because we have become cheaters ourselves. A recent ABC poll cited that cheating in American high schools has become widespread if not endemic. Why shouldn’t this be a problem? The students are trying to get good grades. But it’s not just the students. We have all seen news reports about teachers either helping students cheat or changing the answers on standardized tests to make their school look better. There are also the teachers who give athletes passing grades because they feel pressure from coaches and administration. It’s not just in our schools. We hear about corporations cheating their employees, stock holders and customers. Then the CEOs are rewarded with their golden parachutes on the way out the door. Our society also cheats on taxes. Who cares, it’s the IRS? That is our attitude towards taxes. I think the quintessential example of our dishonesty is downloading pirated music and movies. We think we have some God-given right to these things. We say that the music and movie industry makes tons already. So what’s wrong with me saving $15? When it comes down to it, we are far too obsessed with getting ahead and making ourselves feel better. We are afraid that Joe next door is going to have one more toy. And the only way he could afford to have that toy is that he cheats and takes shortcuts.
How do we fix this problem? It starts with us as individuals. I will agree there are “gray” areas in life but there are far more black and white areas than we’d like to admit. We have to decide that not cheating and not stealing is far more important than having things or getting a pat on the back. We have to teach it to our children.
prolifelibertarian 