All of the major revolutions in history, be it cognitive, agricultural, industrial, technological, etc., have changed our world, but in doing so they also produced new challenges for future generations to address.  The American Revolution created the greatest nation on earth because it is built on human rights.  In allowing the astounding accomplishment of allowing the common man to achieve political greatness, the revolution provided a gateway for one’s moral compass to be influenced by the opportunity to achieve such power. “Bridgegate” is an example of this, as it demonstrates how those in public service who are trying to improve our society are also tempted to use their authority to support their leader, often without his/her knowledge.  The solution to this crisis may already be created, and in action every day at Pine Crest School.

Most of us know the facts. Months before the election there was tremendous speculation that the Mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, Mark Sokolich, was not going to endorse Governor Chris Christie for re-election. The press has speculated that as a result, some of Christie’s top staff executives decided to either convince him to change his mind, or punish Sokolich. They chose the latter. The plan began on August 13, when Bridget Anne Kelly used her personal email account, and sent an email to David Wildstein, the governor’s appointee to the Port Authority, saying “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.”  Wildstein famously responded with two very impactful words, “Got it.”  This takes us to  September of 2013,when two of three access lanes to the George Washington Bridge, the busiest in the world, were shut down causing mayhem for commuters and travelers alike.  When questions began and the press and others demanded to know the reasons behind the lane closure, the Port Authority claimed it was due to a “traffic safety study.”

Many dove deeper looking for more information as to why any committee would agree to significantly impair traffic flow on the world’s busiest bridge. Many Americans missed their flights, did not show up for work, and were unable to retrieve their children from school.  According to New York Daily News, a woman even died because the ambulance did not reach her in time due to the traffic.   Gov. Cuomo  reopened the lanes on September 13, and the remainder of September and October involved lots of finger pointing and opening of official investigations.  Speculation that Christie and his team were involved continued, and in December  Christie announced the resignation and firing of several of his chief staffers; Wildstein, Kelly, and more.  On January 9, Christie (now re-elected) humbly addressed the nation and apologized to Fort Lee, the people of New Jersey and others.  He also apologized to Mayor Sokolich.

On January 14, Christie opened his annual State of the State address saying “we let down all the people we are entrusted to serve”.  Christie used word like “embarrassed,” “humiliated,” and said he had “no knowledge or involvement.”  He has since confronted the American people by holding a two hour press conference in which he took full responsibility for the incident.  Consequently, he has gone down thirteen points in the 2016 Presidential polls against Hilary Clinton, another favorite to run for office. Despite Christie’s press conferences where he takes responsibility of the event, there is no evidence that fully ties Christie to any knowledge of the horrible and dishonorable actions that his staff conducted in “Bridgegate.”

While the Founding Fathers created the system of checks and balances to ensure the democracy would hold up, what wasn’t taken into account is that because power causes such corruption, even though a leader might be true, his staff could still have the ability to commit unethical acts without his/her knowledge.  A debacle like “Bridgegagte” could never be pulled off by one person; in order to cause such a scandal there would need to be many people involved.  So how can events like “Bridgegate” be stopped, or even better, never happen at all?  The answer lies in what Pine Crest School created years ago: the honor code.

Democracy provides checks and balances for citizens and for politics, but the honor code, if executed as well as our government’s democracy, would dramatically eliminate scandal and betrayal; two of the weakest areas in our government.  If Pine Crest’s honor code were in effect in New Jersey, “Bridegate” never would have happened.  Sure, you can always have one person who isn’t honest or is willing to deceive many in some misguided belief that they are helping their elected official.  But “Bridgegate” never could have been pulled off by one person; it would take dozens, and the honor code would have shut it down before it ever became a real plan.  The Pine Crest honor code provides exactly the sort of checks and balances for human character as our democracy provides for keeping stability in the government.  Chris Christie lost 13 points in the Presidential Poll because his staff, however misguided, felt they were trying to help him.  If the honor system had been in place, polls would still have him equal to Clinton, the bridge never would have had closed lanes, and America’s reputation would not have been damaged.