Does President Stand With Or Above The Masses?

As happened to President Nixon in the Pentagon Papers case a quarter-century ago, even President Clinton’s own appointees to the Supreme Court ruled against him this week.

In saying Paula Jones’ civil suit against the president can proceed, even while Clinton is in office, the court reportedly said not even a president stands above the law.

However, the justices pointedly reminded the trial court to make allowances for Clinton, remembering the stature of the presidency - allowances that may not have been made for, say, a farmer or a pharmacist.

Does Clinton really stand on an equal footing with every other American? Should he?

Critical of Critical Mass

Besides owning Holistic Bicycle Repair on Spokane’s South Hill, Tomas Kelley Lynch is an avid cycler.

“I log more miles on my bicycles than I do in my car each year,” he said. “I commute, run errands and ride for pleasure.”

Lynch was at Critical Mass, a group bicycling effort that hit Spokane streets during rush hour on May 16.

“The speeches at the beginning sounded like it was a good idea: ‘Obey traffic laws, signal your intentions, don’t run red lights, don’t upset car drivers. We are here to make a statement.”’

But the image soon changed, Lynch said.

“What I saw from inside the pack was a bunch of cyclists wanting more to be a part of something than to make a statement. They were running the lights, blocking cars and jumping traffic islands. Within the first eight blocks, I decided that Critical Mass was something with which I did not want to be associated.”

Lynch said he supports transportation alternatives to single-occupancy motor vehicles.

“However, the way to reduce animosity is not to antagonize car drivers but rather to work with them following the traffic laws.”

He said a comprehensive bike-lane system would set boundaries for both bicycles and automobiles.

“This would reduce the malevolence between the two factions. When one of us crosses the painted stripe, then there is room for grievance. Without the stripes, it is left up to our own judgment. As it stands now, car drivers have a grievance with our just being there,” Lynch said.

“I ride responsibly and within the law. I am one person trying to make a difference in air quality, traffic congestion and my own personal health.”

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