At the root of the public fascination with the fate of Michael Bryant is a question that lies at the heart of democracy: Do the rich and powerful get special treatment?

Preventing the public from answering "yes" to that question will be a challenge for authorities, with the spotlight glaring down on every aspect of the prosecution of the former provincial attorney general for his deadly encounter with a cyclist.

How much easier for authorities to go easy on the rich and powerful when no one's really watching.

The lack of spotlight is certainly making things easier for officials in Ottawa as they deal with another very different investigation that raises the same question about favouritism toward the rich.