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Why the implicit equation of "words" with "shouting at people that they're bad"? (Or at least, that's how I'm reading your comment based on the context.) The
by Sniffnoy 10y ago
Why the implicit equation of "words" with "shouting at people that they're bad"? (Or at least, that's how I'm reading your comment based on the context.)
The alternative is actual argument rather than punishment, something overgard in no way ruled out.
...which unfortunately may not be a great tool given the current situation. I think we are at the point where playing nice may no longer be a serious option.
But that doesn't mean we should just, lke, punish all the bad people because they're bad people. That still isn't helpful. It just feels good, it doesn't necessarily accomplish anything.
In the particular case of people joining the Trump administration, I think Megan McArdle makes a good case against punishing capable people for joining it: https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-11-09/there-s-no-shame-in-joining-the-trump-administration https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-11-09/there-s-n...
Still. We're in a situation now where argument is unlikely to get us anywhere -- but in better times, that's the ideal, not using words to punish people.
- Retric 10y agoLetting people get away with harmful practices is a bad idea. Extending that from theft to politics is a very reasonable thing to do. People prentend that politics is a purely abstract thing, but consider. Bush is directly responsible for well over 500,000 deaths. The blood of his victims is directly on the hands of everyone that voted for the idiot. Trump might not be as bad or he might start WWIII.
- rayiner 10y agoAlso, there is the fact that Trump isn't Pinochet. At this stage, he's not even Bill Clinton (pushed the party hard to the right, locked up hundreds of thousands of poor black people to court skittish suburbanites). He'll get there but he's a pure virgin soul compared to pretty much any modern President besides Carter.
- tptacek 10y agoGive it a few months.
- rayiner 10y agoI have no doubt Giuliani will reverse even the half-assed[1] attempts at criminal justice reform that Obama has attempted. [1] Calling it "half-assed" doesn't even do it justice because the measures are far less than half of what's needed.
- tptacek 10y agoThe sad thing is, had any other GOP candidate besides Cruz won, sentencing reform would be on the docket.
- selimthegrim 10y agoLet's not forget Christie railroading the Fort Dix "terrorists"
- pcwalton 10y ago> locked up hundreds of thousands of poor black people to court skittish suburbanites That's an utterly meaningless comparison. Bill Clinton was a governor with terrible policies concerning minorities [1], while Donald Trump was a real estate mogul with terrible policies concerning minorities. The fact that their different leadership positions meant that Trump could harm a statistically fewer number of people means exactly nothing. "Didn't lock up any black people" isn't exactly an achievement for someone who hasn't served in government. [1]: I agree with you that Bill Clinton deserves to be held completely accountable for his actions as Arkansas governor.