A Veteran’s View: Justice as a Talking Point, Power as the Prize

Let’s dispense with the pretense. In the bloodsport of politics, whether in D.C., Brussels, or Baghdad, the currency isn’t truth, morality, or even the nebulous ideal of justice. It’s power. Always has been. Always will be.

“Justice” is the flag hoisted on the battlefield, but power is the real objective behind the advance. The politician who speaks of justice is often less interested in equity and more concerned with optics, influence, and institutional control. They don’t seek to level the playing field, they want to own the stadium, sell the tickets, and set the rules of the game.

This isn’t cynicism, it’s clarity. Ask anyone who’s watched the machinery of government up close, especially those who’ve operated in the seams where politics meets warfare, as many of us in the military have. You learn quickly that noble ideals are window dressing. The real work happens in the shadows, in committee rooms, in backchannels, where justice is bartered like a commodity, and power is the only thing that’s never on sale.

A Soldier’s Perspective: Justice is What We Fight For—But Not What They Govern For

We joined the military believing in the Constitution, the rule of law, and yes, justice. Many of us went to war for it. We buried friends for it. But time and again, we’ve watched politicians use our sacrifices not to bring about justice but to leverage talking points and consolidate power.

You see it when legislation gets named after fallen heroes and then stuffed with pork. You see it when national security becomes a tool of partisan warfare. You see it when decisions that cost lives are made not by those in the fight, but by those in suits, calculating political cost, not operational risk.

Justice—real, blindfolded, scale-holding justice—is slow, principled, and impartial. Politics is fast, pragmatic, and tribal. The two may occasionally intersect, but they are not aligned. And when they do meet, justice often gets gutted so power can wear its skin.

Power’s Playbook: Divide, Distract, Dominate

If the goal were justice, we’d be aiming for common ground. Instead, politics thrives on division. Left versus right, urban versus rural, woke versus anti-woke. These aren’t ideological battles—they’re market segmentation. Just as a company carves up demographics to maximize profits, political actors carve up the electorate to consolidate power.

Distraction is another tactic. While we argue over tweets and slogans, the powerful entrench themselves: redistricting behind closed doors, appointing loyalists to oversight bodies, rewriting rules under the guise of reform. It’s not about creating a more just society—it’s about rigging the system so their side stays on top.

Domination is the final phase. Once power is secured, justice becomes an obstacle. Dissenters are vilified. Transparency becomes optional. Loyalty becomes currency. If justice gets in the way, it gets redefined—or removed entirely.

What This Means for Us

As veterans, warriors, and thinkers, we have a duty to see clearly. The battlefield may change—from foreign deserts to domestic discourse—but our mission remains: protect the republic, uphold the oath, and never mistake political theater for genuine service.

We must be the bulwark between principle and pragmatism, between justice and power. Because if we aren’t vigilant, those who seek only power will continue to wear justice like a mask—and that mask will become harder and harder to remove.

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Scott is a veteran of a half-dozen combat deployments and has served in several different Special Operations units over the course of his Army career. Scott’s writing focuses largely on veterans’ issues, but he is also a big proponent of Constitutional rights and has a deep interest in politics. He often allows other veterans who request anonymity to publish their work under his byline. Scott welcomes story ideas and feedback on his articles and can be reached at havokjournal@havokmedia.com. 

As the Voice of the Veteran Community, The Havok Journal seeks to publish a variety of perspectives on a number of sensitive subjects. Unless specifically noted otherwise, nothing we publish is an official point of view of The Havok Journal or any part of the U.S. government.