4 ms·

Oh please, we are now debating which country is less authoritarian. Any Russian or Chinese government troll will launch similar comparisons in defence of Putin

Oh please, we are now debating which country is less authoritarian. Any Russian or Chinese government troll will launch similar comparisons in defence of Putin or Xi: but at least we are not doing [x]. Kidnapping is kidnapping. Some of you have gone quickly from freedom of speech and democracy to at least we only disappear people for a few days. And we only beat journalists we dont torture them. And we only persecute minorities we dont put them in camps. And we only let them rot in ghettos not gas chambers. Be serious, you are part of the problem.

tux1968 6y ago
You were the one who tried to compare them as equally authoritarian, and they are not -- as much as you want to convict them of the same crimes. If anyone is being arrested off the street for free speech then I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you and oppose it. If they are being arrested for violence or property damage, then I will let the courts deal with it. Being shrill and exaggerating what is going on is not helping, it is part of the problem.
- contrarianmop 6y ago
  Yeah in the freeworld we dont kidnap people for damaging wall paint. Anyway enjoy your erosion of rights - they already deny you plenty.
  - tux1968 6y ago
    I believe that our government and corporate culture is way too authoritarian and have been speaking out against it my whole life. That does not mean that we should depart from all sense of proportionality and reason. You do us no favour by exaggerating and mischaracterizing the situation. The US government isn't kidnapping anyone off the street for damaging wall paint -- they're arresting people. If you can't see the difference and keep that simple fact straight, you hurt your own case and seem unreasonable and untrustworthy as a source. If there have been unjust arrests, then say so and make it known. But don't pretend they are kidnappings -- it sounds ridiculous on the face of it and makes you sound childish.
    - amanaplanacanal 6y ago
      I keep reading that people are being “arrested”, held for a couple hours, then released without charges. Where is any kind of justice in that?
      - kergonath 6y ago
        It isn’t about justice. It’s about bullying, intimidation, and escalating protests to have scary pictures to show in politics ads.
  - wil421 6y ago
    How is being arrested kidnapping?
    - jessaustin 6y ago
      Lawful arrests are followed by swift access to the courts. The arrests under discussion aren't like that. Taking one's freedom without due process of law is precisely kidnapping.
      - deleted 6y ago
        [deleted]

tux1968 6y ago

You were the one who tried to compare them as equally authoritarian, and they are not -- as much as you want to convict them of the same crimes. If anyone is being arrested off the street for free speech then I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you and oppose it. If they are being arrested for violence or property damage, then I will let the courts deal with it. Being shrill and exaggerating what is going on is not helping, it is part of the problem.

contrarianmop 6y ago
Yeah in the freeworld we dont kidnap people for damaging wall paint. Anyway enjoy your erosion of rights - they already deny you plenty.
- tux1968 6y ago
  I believe that our government and corporate culture is way too authoritarian and have been speaking out against it my whole life. That does not mean that we should depart from all sense of proportionality and reason. You do us no favour by exaggerating and mischaracterizing the situation. The US government isn't kidnapping anyone off the street for damaging wall paint -- they're arresting people. If you can't see the difference and keep that simple fact straight, you hurt your own case and seem unreasonable and untrustworthy as a source. If there have been unjust arrests, then say so and make it known. But don't pretend they are kidnappings -- it sounds ridiculous on the face of it and makes you sound childish.
  - amanaplanacanal 6y ago
    I keep reading that people are being “arrested”, held for a couple hours, then released without charges. Where is any kind of justice in that?
    - kergonath 6y ago
      It isn’t about justice. It’s about bullying, intimidation, and escalating protests to have scary pictures to show in politics ads.
- wil421 6y ago
  How is being arrested kidnapping?
  - jessaustin 6y ago
    Lawful arrests are followed by swift access to the courts. The arrests under discussion aren't like that. Taking one's freedom without due process of law is precisely kidnapping.
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]