The Rules of the Game

Have you ever watched a baseball game? 

Even as a casual viewer of the sport, you may have been taken by the role of the umpire. As the sole observer of the codified rules of the game he is given the task of “calling it like he sees it.” 

The umpire's decisions are final and are made in a split- second, decisive fashion based on his keen observation skills and his knowledge of the rules. After all, he got his job as umpire because of his keen skills and extensive knowledge of the written rules of the game. He gets some push-back from the players and the fans, and maybe a little dirt on his uniform, but he issues his judgments on the spot and without fail his decisions are accepted as final.

The umpire prepares himself for the game in his private and separate dressing room and wears a uniform in keeping with his position.  His voice is loud and clear.  As the keeper of the rules and decisive voice of who is “save” and who is “out” he takes his job very seriously and does not employ assistants to make his decisions for him; after all is said and done he knows that a lot is riding on his ability to make decisions.  In fact the entire integrity of the game is based on his ability to decide who is “right” and who is “wrong;” who is “safe” and who is “out.”

Have you ever been to court? Any type of court Civil, Supreme, Criminal or even small claims? Even as a casual viewer of the process you will see a process stalled by the lack of a decision-maker. Oh, yes, there is a judge. A person hired or elected because of their skills and education but, in the vast majority of courtrooms, a person paralyzed by a lack of any real ability to decide anything. A person, who, maybe, works a couple or three half-days a week, has cases backed-up for months or maybe even years; a person who has their “clerk” or assistant write most of the important decisions; a person who readily issues adjournments and delays that amount to nothing more than legal black-mail.

The judge prepares himself in his private chambers and wears a robe in keeping with his position. He basically sits in his “ivory tower” protected by armed court guards.  His decisions, if they are ever made, are hidden and couched in deep legalize. They are not final and are often appealed to another set of judges who sit behind closed doors and issue their decisions in secret. These people are the keepers of the integrity of our society and their duty is to issues decisions based on justice as set forth in our laws.

From where I sit, these judges could take a page from the rule book that baseball umpires use.  Real justice is prompt and decisive and called in the open air in a loud clear voice.  When “you’re out!” you leave the field; when “you’re safe!” you keep on playing the game.

Patrick Ingegno is a credit & collection professional can be reached at inner-circle@optimum.net or www.innercircledebtsolutions.com