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The “Stolen Power” in Washington serves as a metaphor for this loss of institutional integrity. Power was not taken by force; it leaked out gradually through small lapses in oversight and personal desperation. The system’s inability to recognize Ferrer’s downfall mirrors a broader societal failure to engage with nuance. We are more comfortable reacting to external threats—like the man with the bat—than to internal, subtle dangers like Ferrer’s. To truly protect our institutions, we need to abandon the “fortress mentality.” We must create environments where vulnerability is acknowledged and addressed, where the early signs of distress in colleagues are recognized before they spiral into criminal motives.
