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There are always going to be violent nutjobs that want to prove something by taking out the leader. Who are tired of being expected to keep their heads down wh

There are always going to be violent nutjobs that want to prove something by taking out the leader. Who are tired of being expected to keep their heads down while the violent nutjobs at the top commit global mayhem on a much, much broader scale than a few rioters could ever hope to accomplish, you mean? No, I don't support violence, or cheer on those who do. I've also been observing the European-style "antifa" crowd and their tactics long enough to just how ironic that label can be. But I would pretend for a nanosecond that when it comes to "nutjob violence", this is anything like a one-sided contest.

scottLobster 9y ago
If they care so much you'd think they'd care about being effective. When was the last time the assassination of a leader of a functioning democracy changed anything for the better? And in this case, guess what? You take out Trump and you get President Mike Pence! He's mostly been off to the side so far, so I wonder if many outside of the US have heard his name much, but he's arguably worse than Trump. Definitely a lot more religious zeal. Whatever the crimes those at the top have committed, if they lead a functioning democracy then violent action is about the least effective option you have at removing their policies. If some people are that pissed off then they should dedicate themselves to the cause, start or volunteer for political movements, even perhaps run for office themselves. Be a political force on whatever scale they can mange for years as opposed to a violent flash in the pan for a few minutes. Attempting assassination is just a last show of selfish, pathetic despair, and only makes things worse for the rest of us.
- kafkaesq 9y ago
  Attempting assassination is just a last show of selfish, pathetic despair, and only makes things worse for the rest of us. I get it, OK? As I think I've made it abundantly clear, I don't advocate (and and certainly not the least bit romantic about) the "revolutionary violence" route. It's that this pigeonholing of street-level malefactors as "violent nutjobs", while pretending that those at the top (especially the likes of Erdogan and Putin) who stand patiently at the sidelines† while others enact "nutjob violence" on their behalf -- are to be considered as somehow in a different category than their street-level counterparts -- that I don't buy either. † Quite literally, as we all saw in Erdogan's case a just a few weeks ago in the U.S. capitol.

scottLobster 9y ago

If they care so much you'd think they'd care about being effective. When was the last time the assassination of a leader of a functioning democracy changed anything for the better? And in this case, guess what? You take out Trump and you get President Mike Pence! He's mostly been off to the side so far, so I wonder if many outside of the US have heard his name much, but he's arguably worse than Trump. Definitely a lot more religious zeal. Whatever the crimes those at the top have committed, if they lead a functioning democracy then violent action is about the least effective option you have at removing their policies. If some people are that pissed off then they should dedicate themselves to the cause, start or volunteer for political movements, even perhaps run for office themselves. Be a political force on whatever scale they can mange for years as opposed to a violent flash in the pan for a few minutes. Attempting assassination is just a last show of selfish, pathetic despair, and only makes things worse for the rest of us.

kafkaesq 9y ago
Attempting assassination is just a last show of selfish, pathetic despair, and only makes things worse for the rest of us. I get it, OK? As I think I've made it abundantly clear, I don't advocate (and and certainly not the least bit romantic about) the "revolutionary violence" route. It's that this pigeonholing of street-level malefactors as "violent nutjobs", while pretending that those at the top (especially the likes of Erdogan and Putin) who stand patiently at the sidelines† while others enact "nutjob violence" on their behalf -- are to be considered as somehow in a different category than their street-level counterparts -- that I don't buy either. † Quite literally, as we all saw in Erdogan's case a just a few weeks ago in the U.S. capitol.