Speaking as someone just old enough to remember Watergate, you're right: there once was a time when accountability was actually a 'thing'. No, things weren't perfect...but politicians did occasionally know and acknowledge shame and even accept responsibility.
I think it began to change when the Iran-Contra investigation turned into an Ollie North lovefest. Then the Ethics In Government Act - and the Office of Special Counsel - expired in 1999, just in time for 9/11. Bush passed the Military Commissions Act in 2006. That was a real gut punch for me (even though it was partly undone by the Supreme Court). It's been downhill all the way since at an increasingly rapid speed.
Speaking as someone just old enough to remember Watergate, you're right: there once was a time when accountability was actually a 'thing'. No, things weren't perfect...but politicians did occasionally know and acknowledge shame and even accept responsibility.
I think it began to change when the Iran-Contra investigation turned into an Ollie North lovefest. Then the Ethics In Government Act - and the Office of Special Counsel - expired in 1999, just in time for 9/11. Bush passed the Military Commissions Act in 2006. That was a real gut punch for me (even though it was partly undone by the Supreme Court). It's been downhill all the way since at an increasingly rapid speed.