The O’Toole Chronicles: Intent — does it matter?

Does intent matter?

The quick answer for me is that sometimes intent doesn’t matter. The inevitable end of something, however tragic, due to a given intervening incident is all the same, regardless of whether therein lies intent or not.

Let’s get real for a moment.

We have all witnessed a tragic event or crisis that occurs solely due to the unforeseen or unexpected happening of an act by a third party. Instantly, we reflexively inquire if the underlying act happened due to an intentional action or negligence or stupidity.

But should that even matter?

If a lobbyist innocently misrepresents the impact of a bill or not and the bill becomes law, does that have any less consequence than a lie being told?

If a campaign staffer mistakenly miscounts the number of notarized signatures to get on a ballot , does the consequence of being prohibited from being on the ballot any less severe if one had collected the signatures and then thrown it in the garbage?

If a bill fails to get 21 or 41 votes because of a change of heart by a weak-kneed lawmaker, is it any less consequential if the promised 21st or 41st voter never intended to push that green light in the first place?

Perhaps a more dramatic example would be helpful.

We find ourselves shipwrecked and the survivors are clinging to life in a rubber raft. The ocean is turbulent and many life and death challenges are churning abound. As the wind gathers to hurricane speeds and we press on to that distant island, we take note that the once buoyant life raft is now suffering from a hole ripped inside the middle of the vessel and is quickly losing air and utility. It is obvious to all that the inevitable isn’t too far. Do you think at that moment in time the then survivors will ask the question what possibly caused this tear? Does it really matter if someone accidently poked a hole in our raft with an errant screwdriver or pen or if someone ripped a hole with malice and intent? The end result is all will perish.

So I ask you, aside from determining prison time, does it really matter if your intentions were good?