4 ms·

Police corruption and abuse are real. Failures of the justice system are real. We must also acknowledge that the system often works correctly, even in high pr

by kogus 3y ago

Police corruption and abuse are real. Failures of the justice system are real. We must also acknowledge that the system often works correctly, even in high profile cases. As I write this, there is a real chance the former president will serve jail time after a fair trial. The police who murdered George Floyd are in jail, and serious reforms were enacted as a result of their misconduct. It is healthy to sniff for corruption. It isn't healthy to smell it before it is there.

phone8675309 3y ago
> We must also acknowledge that the system often works correctly Any system that treats non-violent drug offenders as hardcore criminals may be a system that is working correctly (as designed) but is not working justly.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- atdrummond 3y ago
  Please explain how one can use any illicit hard drug without causing harm to others. Just because addicts aren’t killing people themselves doesn’t mean their actions have no consequences. (I say this as an opioid addict myself who will forever have to wrestle with the money I gave to violent cartels to support my habit.)
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - hiatus 3y ago
    If someone is growing magic mushrooms for their own consumption, how does that harm anyone at all?
    - maximinus_thrax 3y ago
      I've always believed that the pushback against private consumption of mind-altering substances is due to the puritanism underlying American culture. “Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” - H.L. Mencken
      - jnsaff2 3y ago
        Is it only American tho? Lots of countries in Asia have death penalties for drug crime.
        phone8675309 3y ago
        A lot of those sentiments probably trace back to Britain introducing opium to China and the resulting damage of that
  - phone8675309 3y ago
    A have opioid addicted friends that just order their supply from off-shore pharmacies that ship genuine meds - they aren't hurting anybody, well, other than the US government by avoiding having to pay tax on medication.
- kogus 3y ago
  This is changing the subject. My point was that 1) corruption exists and 2) it is not (in my opinion) a dominant factor in the justice system. Regarding drug use: I do not think I have a right to tell other people what to put in their mouth / nose / whatever. It should be legal to use recreational drugs, just as it is legal to do many other very stupid things.
FireBeyond 3y ago
> The police who murdered George Floyd are in jail, and serious reforms were enacted as a result of their misconduct. This is probably the highest profile situation that worked out as it should (with the PD firing the officers within 24 hours of the event). Oftentimes, this does not happen. Let's look at several high profile deaths: Eric Garner - no indictments, no charges. Michael Brown - County, DA, DOJ all declined to press charges. Tamir Rice - all charges declined. Laquan MacDonald - officer guilty of second degree murder, released 3 years in to a 7 year sentence. Walter Scott - officer found not guilty of murder, guilty of violating federal civil rights. State dropped charges. Freddie Grey - six officers charged, three cases dropped, three acquitted. DOJ declined charges. Philando Castile - officer acquitted of manslaughter despite their own bodycam (but to your point, he was charged). Justine Damond - shot after calling 911 to report being raped. Officer convicted of murder and manslaughter, murder overturned on appeal. Breonna Taylor - no charges filed, and officials stated it was justified because someone else was firing at them. One officer convicted of negligence after shooting at entirely the wrong home. Many of the above charges also only came about after significant public protest over PD/DA/DOJ initially declining any charges or denying there was any issue. > As I write this, there is a real chance the former president will serve jail time after a fair trial. You are entirely too optimistic. Realistically, at best, he will be placed under limited house arrest.

by kogus 3y ago

phone8675309 3y ago

> We must also acknowledge that the system often works correctly Any system that treats non-violent drug offenders as hardcore criminals may be a system that is working correctly (as designed) but is not working justly.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
atdrummond 3y ago
Please explain how one can use any illicit hard drug without causing harm to others. Just because addicts aren’t killing people themselves doesn’t mean their actions have no consequences. (I say this as an opioid addict myself who will forever have to wrestle with the money I gave to violent cartels to support my habit.)
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- hiatus 3y ago
  If someone is growing magic mushrooms for their own consumption, how does that harm anyone at all?
  - maximinus_thrax 3y ago
    I've always believed that the pushback against private consumption of mind-altering substances is due to the puritanism underlying American culture. “Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” - H.L. Mencken
    - jnsaff2 3y ago
      Is it only American tho? Lots of countries in Asia have death penalties for drug crime.
      - phone8675309 3y ago
        A lot of those sentiments probably trace back to Britain introducing opium to China and the resulting damage of that
- phone8675309 3y ago
  A have opioid addicted friends that just order their supply from off-shore pharmacies that ship genuine meds - they aren't hurting anybody, well, other than the US government by avoiding having to pay tax on medication.
kogus 3y ago
This is changing the subject. My point was that 1) corruption exists and 2) it is not (in my opinion) a dominant factor in the justice system. Regarding drug use: I do not think I have a right to tell other people what to put in their mouth / nose / whatever. It should be legal to use recreational drugs, just as it is legal to do many other very stupid things.

FireBeyond 3y ago

> The police who murdered George Floyd are in jail, and serious reforms were enacted as a result of their misconduct. This is probably the highest profile situation that worked out as it should (with the PD firing the officers within 24 hours of the event). Oftentimes, this does not happen. Let's look at several high profile deaths: Eric Garner - no indictments, no charges. Michael Brown - County, DA, DOJ all declined to press charges. Tamir Rice - all charges declined. Laquan MacDonald - officer guilty of second degree murder, released 3 years in to a 7 year sentence. Walter Scott - officer found not guilty of murder, guilty of violating federal civil rights. State dropped charges. Freddie Grey - six officers charged, three cases dropped, three acquitted. DOJ declined charges. Philando Castile - officer acquitted of manslaughter despite their own bodycam (but to your point, he was charged). Justine Damond - shot after calling 911 to report being raped. Officer convicted of murder and manslaughter, murder overturned on appeal. Breonna Taylor - no charges filed, and officials stated it was justified because someone else was firing at them. One officer convicted of negligence after shooting at entirely the wrong home. Many of the above charges also only came about after significant public protest over PD/DA/DOJ initially declining any charges or denying there was any issue. > As I write this, there is a real chance the former president will serve jail time after a fair trial. You are entirely too optimistic. Realistically, at best, he will be placed under limited house arrest.