Lack of accountability

I could not let this writing spree pass without at least one English (sort of) entry. I will write this one as it is not evident for me at first sight what would be the correct translation for the term "lack of accountability". Moreover, if, God forbid, I write something inconvenient, that could be entirely attributed to an error in translation.

Anyway, in my book (and here is the first time of many in this post that I might be tremendously wrong with a term) lack of accountability means that actions have no real consequences for the people making them. I am not very sure, as, even I am always boasting about getting old, I am not that old, and I cannot compare present politicians with many older ones. However I have the feeling that in present times lack of accountability reigns supreme.

 

Generic photo from Wikicommons
But hey, everything looks better with a picture

 

No matter what a politician says or does, regardless of their allegiance or party, it never seems to matter. I might be wrong and I hope that I am, but that is the general impression that I have. More people are polarized and people are more and more polarized. It always have been people that had a somewhat sworn allegiance to a certain political party, even if they had no direct involvement in it. But now, it seems to be much more common, and it seems like a question of faith. I would say that it seems the cult following of a football team, but I also find that kind of following unsettling, maybe the topic for another day.

What might have caused this kind of  devotion and extremism? I do not know, I am not even sure if this is something new. I am not even sure if this is really a thing. It has existed always, and I feel it is more general now, but maybe I am wrong. I try to remember how it was some years ago and I think it was not that bad, but maybe it was and I just remember the past through rose-colored glasses or I just could not see it from my own small world. There is a common theory that social networks have contributed tremendously to this polarization of society, as they tend to encourage confirmation bias. They feed the users only the information that they are more likely to engage with, which is information that confirms their previous beliefs. That could also be manipulated by a large enough organization.

It strange thinking in how important social networks can be, remembering some twelve or so years ago, when it seemed nothing but a novelty, a toy we struggled to find a use for. And now, allegedly, in can maybe change the course of history.

Anyway, the problem with the growing lack of accountability is that it seems that politicians can get away with anything, because it does not matter what they do or say, just the color they represent. We are still far away from the tension of, say, the 1930's, but that strong feeling of us versus them could lead us into the territory of everything is valid, everything that my team does is ok. That idea, when followed to the letter in positions of power could be translated to the impunity of everything my followers do in my name, which can reverse to a reaction of taking justice by each one's hand. And from that, chaos. 

And that is the superficial and apocalyptic thought of today. I was not planning on getting in a topic like this but, you know, that challenge that I put on myself makes me tackle on any idea that crosses my head. I hope I did not bore everyone too much.