breakdown in normal moral behaviour

What have these people in common ?

Fred Goodwin
Carlos Tevez/Wayne Rooney
Jonathan Ross (in association with Russell Brand)
Liam Fox MP
Andy Coulson
Philip Green
Aubrey Morley MP

The answer is, of course, that they have all been in a privileged position through wealth or position and, I suppose, as a result, believe that the common norms of behaviour in our society do not apply to them.

If they are rare exceptions, this is of relatively little concern. The difficulty arises if they become role models for others.

I was reflecting that people who are fantastically more wealthy than the mass of the people have always been with us. What may distinguish them from the list above is whether they have recognised their privileged position and acted in a responsible way. Downton Abbey is currently portraying such a family, but I wonder whether they are a fictional exception. In a way I hope such disfunctional, privileged people have always existsed because that would mean that current society is no more decadent than any other. I remain unsure......