O P I N I O N
THE SOAPBOX
Stand up. Speak up. It’s your turn.
From Washington to Concord to Manchester, the message is the same: if accountability disappears at the top, trust erodes everywhere else.
In a recent New York Times opinion podcast, “The Wealthy Steal, Too — Just Differently,” the question was raised: if the system protects the powerful when they exploit it, can petty theft by ordinary people be seen as a form of protest?
It’s a provocative idea—and a dangerous one.
Because here in New Hampshire, we pride ourselves on something simple and fundamental: the rules apply to everyone. That’s not just a slogan. It’s the foundation of our civic life—from town meeting floors to the State House in Concord to the neighborhoods of Manchester.
And when that principle is undermined, the damage is real—and local.
Let’s start with the obvious truth: theft is wrong. Whether it’s shoplifting from a small business on Elm Street or manipulating systems of power for personal gain, it is still theft. Dressing it up as protest doesn’t make it justice. It makes it erosion.
But the deeper issue is not what happens at the margins. It’s what happens at the top.
When leaders model behavior rooted in deception, self-dealing, or disregard for the law, they don’t just break rules—they rewrite expectations. And the message that trickles down is corrosive: accountability is optional.
Donald Trump and those around him have been the subject of repeated allegations, findings, and ongoing legal challenges that raise serious questions about respect for the rule of law. Regardless of where one lands politically, the broader impact is undeniable: it feeds a growing belief that power insulates people from consequences.
That belief doesn’t stay in Washington.
It shows up here at home—in quieter but equally consequential ways.
In Manchester, small business owners already struggle with rising costs and razor-thin margins. When shoplifting is rationalized as protest, it’s not a political statement—it’s a direct hit to someone trying to keep their doors open, pay employees, and serve their community. There’s nothing abstract about it.
At the State House, where I serve, we debate budgets, oversight, and fiscal responsibility every day. We review reports, question spending, and argue over priorities because taxpayer dollars demand accountability. But those conversations depend on a shared premise: that rules matter, and that they apply equally.
When that premise weakens, so does everything built on top of it.
Even at the most local level—zoning boards, school budgets, public works decisions—trust is the currency. Residents show up, speak out, and accept outcomes because they believe the process is fair. Undermine that belief, and civic participation itself begins to fray.
And that’s the real danger of the argument that theft can be justified.
Because once people begin to believe that the system is rigged—that some can lie, cheat, or bend the rules without consequence—the line between right and wrong doesn’t just blur. It disappears.
“If they can do it and get away with it, why shouldn’t I?”
That is not protest. That is collapse.
New Hampshire has long stood for a different standard. Live Free or Die does not mean live without rules. It means live under laws that are applied fairly, transparently, and equally—without fear or favor.
We should reject the idea that wrongdoing becomes acceptable simply because it is widespread or politically convenient. And we should be clear-eyed about where the greatest responsibility lies: with those entrusted to lead.
Because leadership is not just about policy. It is about example.
If we want a society where people respect the law, then the law must be respected first by those in power.
If we want trust in our institutions, then those institutions must hold everyone accountable.
And if we want to preserve the social contract that binds communities like Manchester together, then we must say—clearly and without hesitation—that theft is wrong, corruption is corrosive, and no one is above the rules.
Not in Washington.
Not in Concord.
Not here at home.
NH State Rep. David Preece represents Manchester in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and is a longtime urban and regional planner who previously served as executive director of the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission.
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