What the ruling elites do unfortunately affects those of lesser means for good or ill. As Psalm 12:8 says, “The wicked walk on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.”

It’s not just the politicians’ malfeasance that degrades the public. America’s popular culture has done a number on civility, with celebrities parading their libertine lifestyles, popularizing profanity and obscenities, lionizing materialism and openly corrupting children. With a few exceptions, we’re a long way from Frank Capra’s uplifting celebrations of virtue.

The rich and famous don’t pay the same price that their less well-heeled audiences do when they fall into addiction and abusive behavior. The celebs check into pricey rehab clinics while someone else watches their kids. The chumps who buy the tickets that make Hollywood rich wind up in family court, a relative’s basement, jail or worse.

“Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue,” French writer Francois de la Rochefoucauld wrote in the 17th century.

America’s ruling elites once had enough respect for the public to live as hypocrites. That is, they projected wholesome values while keeping their sordid lives secret. Right now, they don’t seem to give a flip.