Now that school has started, social studies teachers across the country are about to tell their students that one of the great things about America is that we're all equal. They will also tell them that, in America, justice is blind. In both cases they will be lying their behinds off.

All you have to do to see how America really works is to look at the case of Tom Coughlin. Coughlin started working for Sam Walton when Wal-Mart was just a dream in Sam's head. When he left in 2005 he was the number two man in the company with a salary in the millions of dollars.

For reasons that we will never know, that wasn't enough for Coughlin. In his last years with the company he stole over $400,000 worth of goods and services. All of the things he took were items that he easily could have paid for.

When Wal-Mart became aware of what had happened, Couhglin was charged with embezzlement and was found guilty at trial.

So far in the story, Coughlin has been treated the same way that any Wal-Mart hourly associate would be treated. The company has a zero tolerance policy on shoplifting and employee theft. In both cases, the person who is caught is arrested and charged with a crime. Of course, the associate also losses his job.

It was after Coughlin was found guilty that we learned the truth about how justice works in America.

The judge sentenced Coughlin to house arrest, probation, and community service. That's all.

In addition, when the judge found out that Coughlin, while under house arrest, attended a gala event where liquor was served, we got another prime example of how the justice system works when the offender is a prominent citizen. Instead of giving Coughlin a nice cozy cell, he ruled that the event had been for charity, therefore Coughlin's attendance was counted as part of his community service.

For the rest of us, if you steal something from Wal-Mart and are caught, the police will come handcuff you and march you off to the squad car in full view of the other customers. If you are found guilty of theft, the punishment will be determined on several factors. One thing you can be sure of is that your punishment will be far more severe than Coughlin's

After all of that, Coughlin actually had the gall to sue Wal-Mart to get his retirement package worth about $17 million. A certain part of his anatomy must be made of brass. The company, of course, counter-sued in response.

The suits were settled out of court last week. After ripping off his employer for $400,000, and basically getting away with it, that same employer gave Coughlin $6.7 million just to go away.

That is how justice really works in America. If you have enough money, you can always beat the rap. Just ask O.J. Simpson. If you don't have money, plan on living in a cage for the next few years.

So you social studies teachers go ahead and tell your students that in America we all get equal justice. Just try not to laugh out loud if they believe you.