Over the last several years, particularly this one, celebrities' legal fiascoes have been headline news on an almost daily basis. They've been arrested for DUI, drugs, possession of weapons, driving infractions, accused of anti-Semetic and other racist statements, and more. Their images and careers are thrown before the public to be "re-examined" under the weight of the new allegations, and they are basically put through the wringer, both personally and professionally.

Aside from the celebrity of the persons involved, the only other factor that has been present in all of these incidents is the paparazzi -- the bottom-feeding stalkers who proudly go to any lengths to capture these folks in candid moments, and expose their private and personal lives to the world.

And while many may disagree with what I'm about to say, I have to wonder why the paparazzi are not held accountable for their actions even sometimes?

Princess Di was most likely killed trying to escape them; there is filmed, photographic evidence of them having caused celebrity car wrecks (Paris, anyone?); they have knowingly, willfully, even gleefully broken every law that protects any normal, American citizen's rights on a regular basis. Yet, they are never held accountable for the part they play in any of these things.

Why is it that public officials have more of a right to privacy than effing celebrities?! If anyone's dirty laundry needs to be aired, it's that which belongs to the people running this country, and all of us, right into the ground. But these people are protected on every side by this law and that loophole, whereas most people have the completely outlandish idea that celebrities somehow belong to the viewing public.

The high price of fame has robbed us of many wonderful entertainers who simply do not want to deal with such. But at least we've got out Brittney Spears records.