Allegations of evil often prompt the reaction that it is wrong to judge others. But if this were so, society would have no basis for depriving dangerous offenders of their freedom and sending them to prison.

Objections to judgment in cases such as those below are often rooted in the seeming implausibility that someone with money, power, success, intelligence and/or charm could be a serious offender. Of course, most people realize this is naive as soon as it is expressed openly.

People also object to the term “evil,” as if use of the term depended on particular spiritual values or signified a lack of objectivity. Again, this view seems based on assumptions that break down as soon as they’re expressed. If Dr. Koop betrays the trust of people who turn to him for medical advice, and recommends a hospital only because that hospital has paid him money, then -- obviously -- that is evil.

No one’s perfect, of course. But there’s too much of a disconnect when our “zero tolerance,” “tough on crime” society avoids facing blatant offenses -- consciously undertaken for selfish motives with the knowledge that harm to society will result -- just because the perpetrator wears a suit and tie, or because he stayed within the law.

This webpage is a reaction -- against the excessive circumspection and judgmental paralysis that benefit evil people by helping them remain powerful, even when the truth becomes public knowledge; and against the failure of relevant public debate.

We constantly hear “freedom of speech” being invoked for antisocial purposes -- pornography, racism, hate, sadistic or violent entertainment. Here we have a type of speech that is clearly relevant and beneficial -- but mainstream commentators act as if they are not free. Indeed, perhaps they are not.

Are my conclusions in the cases below certain? They are not. Although there is such a thing as proof beyond a reasonable doubt -- again, it would otherwise be impossible to enforce the law -- my time and resources do not permit a criminal-conviction standard of proof. But as an objective observer, I find these examples persuasive enough that they are worth presenting, if it can help stimulate a rational reassessment of the respect and deference often accorded those who transgress the moral code that is innate to human nature.

Examples given here:

• Right-Wing Election Deceit promulgated by the Republicans, abetted by The Wall Street Journal.

• Providian Financial Corporation, America’s sixth-largest issuer of credit cards.

• Dr. C. Everett Koop: America’s most trusted health authority.

• “The Independent Institute”: A research institute that frowns on “the pervasive influence of partisan interests” and upholds, in its own words, “the highest standards of independent scholarly inquiry” as it “pushes at the frontiers of our knowledge of public policy issues” -- including, certainly, the alarming issue of excessive government zeal in prosecuting alleged antitrust violations.

  (Sneak preview: they get secret funding from Microsoft)