Why Do Americans Still Embrace "Droit du Seigneur"?

[McCamy Taylor]

"Droit du Seigneur", the right of noble men to "have their way" with subordinate women. Why is Trump president and Franken is on his way out? Because of the belief that the rich are not like the rest of us, and that any "inferior" woman who receives the sexual attentions of a rich man has been blessed.
This is as much a class issue as it is a gender issue, and until we rid ourselves of the notion that some of us are "more equal" than others, there will be two standards, one for those who hold themselves up as mere mortals (i.e human beings) and another for those who claim to be demi-gods.

[MaryMagdaline]

1. So true * It is a class issue

[pansypoo53219]

6. class or TEEVEE 'star'?

[Angry Dragon]

2. One has to look at the Judaical system also

[kcr]

3. I think it's brave of you to go there. It's true.

I think we have the impression that the GOP are much more forgiving of their own members, and it's true that some of the imbalance is partisan. But they are the party of the rich upper class. Trump is regarded as exceedingly wealthy and powerful. I'm reminded of the minor, recent accusations being falsely equated with his much more serious, longstanding ones for which he has never been held accountable and wonder how much of this dynamic played into it. Our side insists we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard when we already have one. How much of this dynamic is driving that pressure?

[Igel]

5. "Forgiveness."

If you change your ways and apologize, it used to be a pound of flesh wasn't required. It was a virtue to be magnanimous and overlook, to forgive, another's flaws.

We have a vestige of this and look kindly on those who forgive their offspring's murderer, if the politics are right. Otherwise, we demand a pound of flesh with substantial interest and no maturity date.

Higher standard or no, at some point the party that forgive Byrd's racist background fell from grace and now demands obeisance to strict, possibly unattainable principles and eternal condemnation for a single lapse. (I note that memories are fallible and malleable and that perceptions of an event can vary markedly, which is why I was taught that there are two sides to every story. Now we view computer screens and many forget that even paper has two sides.)

[MaryMagdaline]

7. I really think this may be a generational thing

For better or worse, "redemption" is not a part of the new order. For all the overuse of "tribalism," there is no real loyalty either. What strikes me is no one's staff are going to cover for the boss anymore. During the Anita Hill case, those of us who believed her 100%, including all the women in our office, were very concerned about her loyalty. We debated whether it was right to turn in a boss or mentor and most said we were glad we we were not under oath. We probably would have lied for our bosses. If we took the salary, we owed loyalty. This is not a dilemma for people today. If you are a creep, they will call you out. They send their own naked pictures to people they hardly know; they aren't going to keep your lame and disgusting secrets.

As scared as I am, I have to say I am happy to see some people get exposed for the slugs they are.

[Maeve]

4. I prefer to use the term 'money issue'--tRump has no class

And in America money has taken over the cache that 'class' has in Europe...

No one with a gold-plated toilet has 'class'!