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I think this is describing exactly why I feel like a grumpy cynical jerk about this right now. The internet loves it causes. It loves to pontificate on forums a

I think this is describing exactly why I feel like a grumpy cynical jerk about this right now. The internet loves it causes. It loves to pontificate on forums and sign petitions to change things, just as long as these changes don't involve anything more than clicking buttons and typing things from laptops while sitting on the couch. I'd rather people calmly review the facts about the people and things involved with the situation rather than do the standard internet mob thing and call for heads to roll and people to be fired. Wait to learn the details rather than rely on emotions before you get angry.

AnthonyMouse 14y ago
I think people pretty well understand the facts here. We have understood them for a long time. Current law makes everyone a criminal. Prosecutors threaten young people with excessive sentences to coerce them into plea bargains. None of this is new information. What we have lacked before is the will to do what is necessary to fix it. And if you have an idea how to do that, let's hear it. Because "heads will roll" is not wholly without merit in these situations, but neither is it inherently the best possible solution. So if you can suggest something better then let's hear it.
- res0nat0r 14y ago
  Better suggestion: Find out first if the 30 year sentence was actually chosen to be handed down, or had to be put in place due to the way the law is currently written. If it is the latter demand the law be fixed, not the person who's job it is to enforce the law.
  - AnthonyMouse 14y ago
    The trouble is that it's both. The law should never have allowed a sentence that ridiculous for the act Swartz allegedly committed, but prosecutors also choose what to charge. So we do need to fix the laws to prevent excessively aggressive prosecutors from having anything that outrageous to charge minor offenders with. I would even admit that that is the more important achievement. But we still need to do something about excessively aggressive prosecutors too, because they can still do plenty of damage with knives and guns even after we take away their nuclear weapons.

AnthonyMouse 14y ago

I think people pretty well understand the facts here. We have understood them for a long time. Current law makes everyone a criminal. Prosecutors threaten young people with excessive sentences to coerce them into plea bargains. None of this is new information. What we have lacked before is the will to do what is necessary to fix it. And if you have an idea how to do that, let's hear it. Because "heads will roll" is not wholly without merit in these situations, but neither is it inherently the best possible solution. So if you can suggest something better then let's hear it.

res0nat0r 14y ago
Better suggestion: Find out first if the 30 year sentence was actually chosen to be handed down, or had to be put in place due to the way the law is currently written. If it is the latter demand the law be fixed, not the person who's job it is to enforce the law.
- AnthonyMouse 14y ago
  The trouble is that it's both. The law should never have allowed a sentence that ridiculous for the act Swartz allegedly committed, but prosecutors also choose what to charge. So we do need to fix the laws to prevent excessively aggressive prosecutors from having anything that outrageous to charge minor offenders with. I would even admit that that is the more important achievement. But we still need to do something about excessively aggressive prosecutors too, because they can still do plenty of damage with knives and guns even after we take away their nuclear weapons.