[lit-ideas] double standards in modern society

Has anyone noticed the grotesque trend of social double-standards, ironies 
within ironies, getting more and more complex with each new year?

How about drugging and drinking Presidential candidates trying to appeal to 
the electorate on the basis of their drugging and drinking?

Here's the Clinton/Gore/Bush example. Clinton, a man who (according to 
classmate Christopher Hitchens) pounded down hashish brownies at Oxford, then 
claimed he "didn't inhale"
    -signed away important privacy protections to the drug war, 
    -then used the "I did not inhale" routine to ingratiate himself with the 
section of the electorate who, at the base, identified with pot smoking as 
sign of honesty and a good heart, 
    -even as their taxes funded the drug war. 

Then the 2000 election where 
    -Gore (who admitted pot smoking for the same reasons) ran against         
-Bush (who made political capital from his "wild youth" AND the Texas ranch 
he bought as an election prop). 

All the while: Hundreds of thousands of people in jail for drug offenses as 
both Presidential candidates admit to some form of drug use.

C'mon, guys, how many double standards is that? Seven? Eight layers of double 
standards?  No one sees anything weirdly wrong with that picture?


Eric

PS: Been pursuing this thread on another list, and thought I'd drop part of 
the topic here in case anyone is interested.


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