Local, state, and federal governments worldwide have generally tried to set an example in battling the novel coronavirus pandemic.<br />So when the powerful or influential break the rules, it provokes fierce public anger and puts society's inequalities on full view.<br />EU Commissioner Phil Hogan broke Ireland's coronavirus restrictions by attending a political golf society event with 80 other people.<br />According to CNN, Hogan was just the latest member of the political elites to be caught flouting the rules.<br />New Zealand's health minister, David Clark, was forced to resign after breaking the country's stay-at-home order to take his family to the beach.<br />Social distancing also appears to have been largely disregarded at Republican National Convention events in the United States this past week.<br />More than 1,000 people gathered on a White House lawn, few wearing masks and sitting close together.<br />They were there to hear President Donald Trump accept his party's nomination Thursday night.<br />When the rich and powerful flout the rules, it has only encouraged more division within the public over whether to observe public health guidelines.
