Entertainment, TV, Celebrity, Culture

Follow @2Paragraphs
  • Daily Edition
    • Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez Rips Kevin McCarthy’s “Problem of Greed”
    • Mitt RomneyMitt Romney Slams Biden’s $400 Billion “Scheme” For Loans
    • Rep. Nancy MaceSaudi Prince Blasted By U.S. Congress Members After Locking Up American
  • Business
    • Sen. Elizabeth WarrenSen. Elizabeth Warren Laughs at Bank CEOs Doing Their Own Stress Tests
    • Randi ZuckerbergRandi Zuckerberg Sarcastically Mocks Crypto Boys Club
    • Daymond JohnDaymond John Drops Elon Musk Icebreaker on Twitter, ‘Money v. Meeting’
  • Culture
    • Bethenny Frankel, Season 8, RHONYCBethenny Frankel Drops Pants, Compares Butts With Kelly Ripa
    • Simone BilesSimone Biles Wows in Corset Dress at Wedding, ‘Gorgeous Couple’
    • Georgia May JaggerMick Jagger’s Daughter Poses Topless, Washes Porsche in ‘Kitty Toy’ Lingerie
  • Sports
    • Sergio GarciaSergio Garcia’s Wife Flaunts Legs in Tiny Cutout Mini Dress, ‘Supermodel’
    • Naomi Osaka, US Open 2020Naomi Osaka Flaunts Bare Belly in Crop Top, Reveals Victoria’s Secret Collab
    • Gov Greg AbbottTexas Gov. Greg Abbott Picks Alabama Over Houston, Fails Politics 101
  • Food
    • Jennifer GarnerJennifer Garner Reveals Her Favorite ‘Dry January’ Treat at Home
    • Dark ChocolateAre Dark Chocolate Fears Overblown? Cadmium, California, and “Ouch, Ouch” Disease
    • Wendy's restaurantWendy’s New Riddle Stumps Social Media — “Chili in Philly?”
  • Interviews
    • Cranberries_in_a_bucketDo Cranberries Really Help UTI? A Doctor Answers With New Evidence
    • Lauren Lovett The Speech Ring InventorVideo: The Speech Ring Inventor on Overcoming Fear of Public Speaking
    • Surge first out gay superhero in the moviesFirst Out Gay Movie Superhero Surge Speaks on Humor, Responsibility
  • Cool Stuff
    • Ice-T on LAW & ORDER: SVU (Virginia Sherwood/NBC)Ice-T’s Wife Flaunts Brand New Range Rover With Front Seat Refrigerator
    • Bergdorf Goodman 5th Avenue store in NYCChristian Louboutin Reveals 3.5″ Spring Mules With ‘Vibrant Red’ Nail Polish
    • Cardi_BCardi B Says She Hit Jackpot With $30,000 Chanel Slot Machine Bag
  • Contact
  • Privacy

Another Armstrong Victim: DEMOCRACY

by Michael J. Racette in Law | January 22, 2013

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Linkedin
  • Reddit
  • Email

As the world knows, disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong recently admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he had lied under oath in various legal proceedings about his use of banned performance-enhancing substances and techniques. After doping allegations surfaced following Armstrong’s 2004 Tour de France victory, SCA Promotions, Inc. withheld a $5,000,000 payment obligation to Armstrong. In the ensuing arbitration proceeding (which resulted in an award in excess of $7,500,000 to Armstrong), he denied under oath having “ever” engaged in “any performance enhancing, any prohibited substance.” Worse still, he filed a libel suit against his former masseuse, Emma O’Reilly, who had told what he now publicly admits was the truth about his knowingly having cheated to win races. That case was settled out of court, as was the libel case he filed against The Sunday Times of London for having printed excerpts of her now corroborated accounts of his deliberate, systematic cheating. Besides the obvious monetary and reputational damage suffered by his former legal adversaries, Armstrong’s perjury erodes our faith in the legal process, and, in turn, our democracy.

Ancient Greek orator Lycurgus stated, “it is the oath which holds democracy together.” Oaths, or affirmations to tell the truth, are vital to the rule of law. Our system of criminal and civil laws—enforced by judicial proceedings—help preserve our democracy. Citizens enact laws through duly-elected representatives, and through our open courts, we enforce them. Our faith in the courts as the means to fairly and peacefully resolve disputes among citizens (or punish citizens who engage in criminal activity) is critical for society to function. And this depends on our assumption and faith that most people take oaths or affirmations seriously, and desire—whether compelled by religion, morality or ethics—to be truthful. Though former sponsors and victims of Armstrong’s prior libel lawsuits may recoup some of the damage they suffered, neither their threatened counter lawsuits nor his public humiliation can restore the incremental—but real—damage he has done to our democracy.  // Michael Racette

RELATED: “The number of prominent people who lie under oath has reached epic proportions,” according to Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist James B. Stewart.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • More
  • Linkedin
  • Reddit
  • Email

Sexy Assistant For Hire

Melissa Nelson, the dental assistant fired by her boss James Knight

Load More

  • Recent
  • Trending
  • Popular
  • Waiters Get Back $500K Tips From Greedy NYC Restaurant
  • Supreme Court Saves SCOTUScare, Scalia Regrets
  • Justice Clarence Thomas Sides With Liberals On Free Speech
  • Uber Just Unwillingly Hired All Its California Drivers
  • Supreme Court Lets Eminem Style Off The Hook
2paragraphs on APPLE NEWS | 2paragraphs Amazon Shop | SEE MORE 2paragraphs ARTICLES
  • About 2paragraphs
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Dedication
  • Map
  • Fresh
  • Law
  • How-To
  • Personal
  • Books

© 2012-2023, 2paragraphs Productions, LLC

  • Buffer
  • Diggit
  • Email
  • More
  • Facebook
  • Flattr
  • Google+
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Reddit
  • Stumble
  • tumblr
  • Twitter
  • VK
  • WhatsApp
  • Yummly
  • Xing