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I don't necessarily disagree with any of this. But it is besides the point. OP was making generalizations regarding people of "privilege." I respectfully disagr

I don't necessarily disagree with any of this. But it is besides the point. OP was making generalizations regarding people of "privilege." I respectfully disagree. I feel that you find dishonest people in all walks of life. More importantly, I think this type of prejudice and "demonizing the other" is quite damaging to our society. "Privileged" is such a vague, subjective basket to throw people in. Who's privileged? Anybody who has something (physical or abstract) you don't? Let's attack ideas not people.

reilly3000 6y ago
I definitely concur there is a broad distribution of dishonest behavior and it can't be monopolized by a certain caste. The practical issue I'm concerned with is around the ability of a minority of people to afford 6-8 figure legal and PR bills and avoid accountability for all manner of issues. When you can tie up courts for years to play financial triage and get the best reputation money can buy, you aren't likely to be held accountable. I know a person who drove their car into a wall while drunk and high in college. Their parents paid $5000 to an attorney and their DUI charge was eventually dropped. Another friend's life took a different course when they got their DUI under similar circumstances but without an attorney, and despite their earnest efforts it's been hard to overcome within the job market. I'm arguing that the defacto disparity of legal budgets is quite damaging to the fabric that holds our society together, which is equal treatment under blind justice. It means an equal distribution of dishonesty is punished disproportionately according to familial wealth. I think you'll find this definition of privilege quite in line with OP's meaning: https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Priviledge https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Priviledge >A particular benefit, advantage, or Immunity enjoyed by a person or class of people that is not shared with others. A power of exemption against or beyond the law. It is not a right but, rather, exempts one from the performance of a duty, obligation, or liability.
cycomanic 6y ago
There is actually some interesting research on this. Paul Piff had some findings that rich people are more likely to break rules to get ahead for example (he has a nice Ted talk btw). However, more recent research found that this is largely/likely due to wealth but being "primed" to think about money, i.e. if you think about money your less likely to help other etc.. Here's a BBC article that summarises the research quite well https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31761576 https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31761576

reilly3000 6y ago

I definitely concur there is a broad distribution of dishonest behavior and it can't be monopolized by a certain caste. The practical issue I'm concerned with is around the ability of a minority of people to afford 6-8 figure legal and PR bills and avoid accountability for all manner of issues. When you can tie up courts for years to play financial triage and get the best reputation money can buy, you aren't likely to be held accountable. I know a person who drove their car into a wall while drunk and high in college. Their parents paid $5000 to an attorney and their DUI charge was eventually dropped. Another friend's life took a different course when they got their DUI under similar circumstances but without an attorney, and despite their earnest efforts it's been hard to overcome within the job market. I'm arguing that the defacto disparity of legal budgets is quite damaging to the fabric that holds our society together, which is equal treatment under blind justice. It means an equal distribution of dishonesty is punished disproportionately according to familial wealth. I think you'll find this definition of privilege quite in line with OP's meaning: https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Priviledge https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Priviledge >A particular benefit, advantage, or Immunity enjoyed by a person or class of people that is not shared with others. A power of exemption against or beyond the law. It is not a right but, rather, exempts one from the performance of a duty, obligation, or liability.

cycomanic 6y ago

There is actually some interesting research on this. Paul Piff had some findings that rich people are more likely to break rules to get ahead for example (he has a nice Ted talk btw). However, more recent research found that this is largely/likely due to wealth but being "primed" to think about money, i.e. if you think about money your less likely to help other etc.. Here's a BBC article that summarises the research quite well https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31761576 https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31761576