3 ms·

Is the point of the article that the US, already the absolute worst country in the world, and in history, bar none, for percentage of its population behind bar

by bambax 5y ago

Is the point of the article that the US, already the absolute worst country in the world, and in history, bar none, for percentage of its population behind bars, should ramp up punishment and somehow jail even more of its own people? The first example given is about Hunter Biden selling art. So he's not an artist, he's the son of the sitting president, and he manages to sell things for a good price, that mainstream critics don't find interesting or beautiful ("widely panned art show")... Good for him! Yes, it's quite obvious that some of the buyers are trying to get political favors; but that doesn't mean they will get them! The author just sounds envious.

ghusto 5y ago
These opinions you've expressed prove his point further.
dkjaudyeqooe 5y ago
How do the buyers get the political favors? They're kept anonymous.
johngalt 5y ago
> percentage of its population behind bars, should ramp up punishment and somehow jail even more of its own people? Corruption isn't only about who avoids punishment, but also who is the target of punishment. In highly corrupt environments you will often find complex and often contradictory rules, that produce a default state of guilt. The only way to avoid punishment is to participate in the corruption.
betwixthewires 5y ago
> The first example given is about Hunter Biden selling art. So he's not an artist, he's the son of the sitting president, and he manages to sell things for a good price, that mainstream critics don't find interesting or beautiful ("widely panned art show")... Good for him! You're being naive. Nobody is buying the art, people are buying influence and laundering money. The man isn't selling art, the man is selling influence, and potentially other things. He splashes paint on a canvas to legitimize it for the accountant. I don't think the point is that the US should jail more people, I think the point is that when lots of people see others getting away with stuff, some of them start to try to do it too, and you have a snowballing societal collapse.

by bambax 5y ago

ghusto 5y ago

These opinions you've expressed prove his point further.

dkjaudyeqooe 5y ago

How do the buyers get the political favors? They're kept anonymous.

johngalt 5y ago

> percentage of its population behind bars, should ramp up punishment and somehow jail even more of its own people? Corruption isn't only about who avoids punishment, but also who is the target of punishment. In highly corrupt environments you will often find complex and often contradictory rules, that produce a default state of guilt. The only way to avoid punishment is to participate in the corruption.

betwixthewires 5y ago

> The first example given is about Hunter Biden selling art. So he's not an artist, he's the son of the sitting president, and he manages to sell things for a good price, that mainstream critics don't find interesting or beautiful ("widely panned art show")... Good for him! You're being naive. Nobody is buying the art, people are buying influence and laundering money. The man isn't selling art, the man is selling influence, and potentially other things. He splashes paint on a canvas to legitimize it for the accountant. I don't think the point is that the US should jail more people, I think the point is that when lots of people see others getting away with stuff, some of them start to try to do it too, and you have a snowballing societal collapse.