When Did We Stop Abiding by "The Rule of Law"

Okay, let's see, we just survived the worst economic meltdown since the Great Depression...and yet, for the first time in modern history when an economic meltdown has occurred, no one was charged with a crime...even though millions of Americans lost trillions of dollars due, in part, to lies by financial folks. We just went through a period of time when our friends and neighbors know that some of us tortured prisoners in the "War on Terror." In fact, Jose Rodriguez, former head of the CIA's clandestine services, who destroyed the videotapes of some of the torture said, "I was concerned that the distinction between a legally authorized program as our enhanced interrogation program was, and illegal activity by a bunch of psychopaths, would not be made." Yet no one was charged with a crime. We claim to be a country guided by "The Rule of Law." My question is, was that ever true, and if it was, when did it stop being true? Was it true when President Clinton was impeached by Republicans in the House of Representatives for lying in a deposition about an extra-marital affair that obviously had nothing to do with his role as President? Or was it true when President Nixon was pardoned by a Republican for his role in a criminal conspiracy to undermine our democracy through the coverup of political crimes that had everything to do with his role as President? Finally, is it true when young inner-city men get life sentences for a few ounces of cocaine, yet many financial thugs who commit billion dollar crimes do not face prosecution, from Republicans or Democrats? It seems we have abided by "The Rule of Law" by making corruption legal.