Summary

The article discusses the importance of recognizing that Supreme Court Justices are human beings and subject to human biases and judgments, despite the high regard they are often held in.

Abstract

The article begins with a quote from Epictetus about the power of will and freedom, and uses it to introduce the idea that Supreme Court Justices are often treated as if they are not subject to human biases and judgments. The author argues that this is a flawed perspective, and that Supreme Court Justices are, in fact, "rational animals" who are capable of both reason and emotion. The author suggests that we should hold Supreme Court Justices to the same standards of "performance and integrity" that we would hold any other employee to. The author also discusses the importance of ethics and the idea that one's actions should be guided by the principle of "what you do when you are all alone at work is what your family and coworkers will read in the newspaper tomorrow." The article concludes with a discussion of a specific example of a school mom, Sherronna Bishop, whose First Amendment rights were violated by the FBI, as a reminder that even Supreme Court Justices are not above the law.

Opinions

The author believes that Supreme Court Justices are often treated as if they are not subject to human biases and judgments, which is a flawed perspective.
The author argues that Supreme Court Justices should be held to the same standards of "performance and integrity" as any other employee.
The author believes that ethics and the principle of "what you do when you are all alone at work is what your family and coworkers will read in the newspaper tomorrow" should guide one's actions.
The author uses the example of Sherronna Bishop to remind readers that even Supreme Court Justices are not above the law and that everyone's First Amendment rights should be respected.

At The End of The Day We Are Human

“Man, what are you talking about? Me in chains? You may fetter my leg but my will, not even Zeus himself can overpower.” Epictetus — The Discourses

We Are Not Programable Robots — Credit found here

People think, and sometimes write, as if the Nomination/Confirmation and affirmation processes, places gods as the Supreme Court Justices of the United States. As such, not subject to a human brain and devoid of “judgment bias.”

They are “Human Beings”

Definition of human — a rational animal.

Rational — “based on or in accordance with reason or logic.” (Dictionary)

Animal — “a living organism that feeds on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous system and able to respond rapidly to stimuli.” (Dictionary)

“Rational” is the one word that differentiates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Once we stop being rational, with are just the other.

So as humans what are we asking SCOTUS Judges to do?

We are asking them the same thing your employer should ask from you. To work with “Performance and Integrity.”

Performance being similar to what you get from a new car as you accelerate into a freeway. At every level of work you give the best that is being ask of you.

Integrity being the “quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” (Dictionary)

That is Ethics

In other words, work every day as if what you do when you are all alone at work is what your family and coworkers will read in the newspaper tomorrow. If you do this you are being “ethical”.

That is the best we can ask ANY human being to do. Other than that, it’s like a saying I heard somewhere.

“Everybody is got two wolfs inside of them, both of them are starving. The one wolf, anger, envy, pride; the other one is truth, kindness, love. Every day, they tear each other apart, but it’s not the better wolf that wins. It’s the one you feed.”

If we recognize every one of us as individuals capable of voting (legally) and with free will. Then, we have to be trusted to have the right to make our decisions. This is true for any SCOTUS Judge As well as By member of his family.

NOBODY’s First Amendment can be gagged or mugged.

There is one exception

Sherronna Bishop First Amendment Rights were mugged by the FBI. A school Mom who is proactive about what materials are acceptable to teach children in their schools, was totally abused as if she was a common criminal at her home, with her husband and two children present. They knocked her front door down, apprehended her, put her in handcuffs out in the street and kept her there in her pajamas for 30 minutes, in a cold day in Virginia for ALL to see and intimidate. You can watch her story here. This is one serious Human Being that knows how to stand up to abuse, to talk with courage as she did in that interview.

We should all get inspired to have such Performance with Integrity as her.