“The rule of law is the legal principle that law should govern a nation, as opposed to being governed by arbitrary decisions of individual government officials. It primarily refers to the influence and authority of law within society, particularly as a constraint upon behavior, including behavior of government officials.”
We hear this reassurance frequently uttered by politicians, judges, and lawyers. Most recently, Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, said of his mother: "She's instilled in me a commitment to public service and a respect for the rule of law that I've tried to follow throughout my career."
Yet, in my opinion, it doesn’t square with reality when the following things occur on a regular basis: