Times sure have changed. It was reported, in the last few days, that a columnist for the New York Times did all sorts of awful things. He faked expense reports. He lied about where he was when he sent in stories to his editor. He made up quotations, and he even made up facts. He was a bad reporter; he was dishonest; and now he stands to make a lot of money because of it--more money than when he was stealing it from the New York Times.

The New York Post, on May 14, 2003, ran a story entitled, "A BLAIR TELL-ALL COULD NET $1M." In other words, and in all likelihood, Jayson Blair, who for all intents and purposes, deceived a nation, stole from his employer and besmirched the reputation of America's most respected newspaper, is going to make a fortune be- cause of it. The story also pointed out that another "disgraced" reporter had "received a six-figure advance for a novel based on his own behavior as a fabricator of stories at The New Republic more than five years ago." Transgression really does pay.

Unfortunately, few of us really needed to wait for a story to come out in the New York Post to have figured that one out. Though, it would have been nice to think that Kar- ma really did exist and folks who tempted fate...

It is a bit difficult to tell when it started, but the difference between infamous and famous disappeared and are now as indistinguishable as flammable and inflammable. After all, Monica Lewinski now has her own television show. What was that again that made her a household name? Can you imagine what went on in the meeting over at Fox prior to hiring Ms. Lewinsky for the reality show Mr. Personality? It does make you wonder what they see as the necessary qualifications a person must possess to have his or her own television show in primetime.

Remember Tanya Harding? She gets a spot on celebrity boxing. Mike Tyson rapes a woman and gets millions of dollars for getting his butt kicked in the ring years after he was released from prison.

Why now? Why in the world would a decent and good nation want to reward foul deeds with the American dream? The easy answer is it wouldn't. For years now, we have been bombarded with the notion that morality is relative. That bad could be good, if we looked at it from the point of view of the person doing bad. No one seems to be questioning that notion, at least not very seriously and not at all effectively. After all, if you even start to talk about morality and good and evil, you are the one to get shunned. Times really have changed. Political correctness aside, people's mind- sets have been changed to the extent that what mattered doesn't matter anymore. Yet, the only one's to benefit from the changed mindset are people you still wouldn't want to baby-sit your kids.

Seriously! What do average Americans, the vast majority of Americans, get from a mindset that says immorality is an outmoded concept? Other than the demise of the traditional family, not much. We get to hear that behavior which makes most people recoil in disgust is merely a choice of lifestyle. Perhaps in the recesses of some folks' brains the idea that, if they don't judge, they will not be judged is attractive. It isn't. Judging goes in several directions. Most people, at least the ones you would let baby sit your kids, would like to be judged as good, decent, and honest. Wouldn't it be a scary time if everyone thought they hadn't the right to know what was right or wrong?

It seems to be that, if judging someone's shortcomings becomes out of vogue, so will judging someone's attributes. When that time comes, heaven help us.

Paul Walfield is a freelance writer and member of the State Bar of California, with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and post-graduate study in behavioral and analytical psychology. He resided for a number of years in the small town of Houl- ton, Maine, and is now a California attorney. His articles appear in numerous peri- odicals and on numerous websites. He has been the featured guest on KTSA News Talk Radio.  CONTACT INFORMATION:  Email:   paul.walfield@cox.net

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