Arrr, mateys! The trust in the FBI be sinkin' to Davy Jones' locker, takin' us closer to mayhem and anarchy!
2023-07-23
Arrr! Mateys, mark me words! The scallywags across the pond be losin' faith in th' institutions that keep 'em peaceful, says Dan Henninger of th' Wall Street Journal. Methinks they be sailin' on stormy waters!
In a humorous tone reminiscent of a 17th-century pirate, the writer highlights the United States' "crisis of confidence" in its governing institutions, with a particular focus on the FBI. The recent testimony of FBI Director Christopher Wray before Congress seems to have been the final straw for the public's trust in the bureau.Studies have shown a significant decline in voter confidence in the FBI and the Department of Justice, with a 15% drop in the public's positive view of the bureau over the past five years. This decline in trust has led to calls for Wray's resignation from GOP lawmakers.
The writer humorously points out that conservatives no longer trust the FBI, while liberals, or progressives, no longer trust the local police. This lack of trust in law enforcement institutions creates a problem for the country.
Accusations of a politicized Department of Justice, exemplified by the FBI raid on former President Trump's home, have further eroded public trust. Americans are turning away from institutions that are supposed to provide stability and order.
During a recent House committee hearing, Republican lawmakers grilled Wray on the politicization of the agency and its alleged suppression of conservative free speech. Wray's refusal to directly address these concerns only deepened the distrust.
Despite Wray's attempts to downplay Republican discomfort with the FBI, the writer warns that public trust in the agency has reached a critical point. Support for the FBI among Republicans is only at 17%, which is not a positive sign.
The writer highlights the danger of institutional disintegration when two sides fail to address each other's concerns. Wray's focus on other criminal activities, such as fentanyl gangs and cybercriminals, while dismissing concerns about free-speech suppression, only exacerbates the lack of trust.
The writer concludes by drawing a parallel between the mass resignations in the Los Angeles Police Department and the potential fate of the FBI. The frustration with treatment and anti-police sentiment led to a wave of resignations among officers, despite rising crime and homelessness in the city. The writer suggests that Wray should not underestimate the possibility of the FBI suffering a similar fate.