Isn't It Funny...

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by Ethereal, Mar 31, 2020.

  1. Lucifer

    Lucifer Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2014
    Messages:
    13,694
    Likes Received:
    9,416
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Huh? No, it wasn't.

    Mandatory sentencing is an outgrowth from the War on Drugs.
     
    Bob0627 likes this.
  2. Bob0627

    Bob0627 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2015
    Messages:
    8,576
    Likes Received:
    2,337
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Which is also unconstitutional. Each case must be decided on its merit. Mandatory sentencing violates due process protections and interferes with the judiciary's powers, which also violates the separation of powers doctrine.
     
    Ethereal and Lucifer like this.
  3. TedintheShed

    TedintheShed Banned

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Messages:
    5,301
    Likes Received:
    1,983
    Trophy Points:
    113
    [
    1917.
     
    Ethereal likes this.
  4. Sanskrit

    Sanskrit Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2014
    Messages:
    17,082
    Likes Received:
    6,711
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Which is the logical equivalent of claiming that your dog licked you only because they are panting.

    Both stated factors are parts of federal sentencing guidelines, a third is pandering to the "law and order" sets of both LW and RW constituencies.
     
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2020
  5. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Keep telling yourself that.
     
  6. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Which statement?
     
  7. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Taking property that doesn't belong to you is thievery everywhere, including the US.
     
  8. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Aggregate metrics are based on how the "average" individual within a country is living. And if you understand basic statistics, such metrics can provide you with a fairly accurate picture of daily life in said country. You don't need to go to Switzerland or Germany to know that they're good countries.

    I don't base my assessment on any particular metric, but on a combination of metrics.

    The US is definitely within the top 10% of countries. But the boastful assertion by Americans that they're the greatest, the best, the number one country in the world is highly dubious.

    The same way Americans can declare other countries "bad" or "evil" despite never having experienced them: By relying on data and observation.
     
  9. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Your question is just an attempt to sidestep the ethical issue I'm raising. You don't want to address the perverse nature of corporations feeding off tax money because it severely undercuts the "USA SO GREAT" shibboleth we've been indoctrinated with.
     
  10. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I'm sure every tyrant in history said the same thing.
     
  11. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The problem with the "justice" system isn't primarily about its mistakes, although those are far too frequent and severe. The problem with the "justice" system is that it is fundamentally unjust.
     
    Bob0627 likes this.
  12. ECA

    ECA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2018
    Messages:
    31,936
    Likes Received:
    15,596
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Yeah...weird to suggest people shouldn’t commit crimes.
     
  13. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    It's a "choice" made under severe duress.
     
  14. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    He just named some. Non-violent drug offenses. Why do you require more examples? Is there some magic number of imaginary crimes that the government is allowed to make up before it becomes unjust?

    But since you asked, we can also include non-violent sex offenses as well. Specifically, anything involving consensual sexual acts between adults. There is absolutely nothing "criminal" about two consenting adults exchanging money for sex.

    So there is another class of imaginary crimes that the law enforces.

    Do you require more examples or is that enough?
     
    Bob0627 likes this.
  15. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    The American revolution was a "crime" against the British empire.

    You would have been a Tory for sure.
     
  16. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    People are sent to prison for all sorts of ridiculous reasons. It's why millions of Americans are demanding criminal justice reform, because the system is so obviously broken. Unfortunately, the robotic "law and order" types are standing in the way of progress, defending a corrupt system that's been captured by the rich and the powerful. I take solace knowing that they are slowly but surely losing the battle. Americans are waking up to how dysfunctional and unjust the legal system has become.
     
    Bob0627 likes this.
  17. kriman

    kriman Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2018
    Messages:
    26,989
    Likes Received:
    11,045
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    I don't really care whether the US is the greatest or the freest. There is no objective measure to determine that. I have visited and or lived in about thirty countries and five continents. This is where I feel most at home and where I want to be.
     
    Dayton3 likes this.
  18. Ethereal

    Ethereal Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    40,617
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    My problem isn't with people who feel most comfortable living in America. I feel the same way.

    My problem is with people who go around boasting about how great they supposedly are compared to the rest of the world.
     
  19. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    Messages:
    25,310
    Likes Received:
    6,668
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Most major life choices are not made under music and flower conditions.
     
  20. Bob0627

    Bob0627 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2015
    Messages:
    8,576
    Likes Received:
    2,337
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Unfortunately I'm not as confident as you are about that. The vast majority of Americans barely even know what the First Amendment covers, never mind the rest of the Bill of Rights.
     
  21. Dayton3

    Dayton3 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    Messages:
    25,310
    Likes Received:
    6,668
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    Pretty certain the U.S. Supreme Court has held otherwise.
     
  22. kriman

    kriman Well-Known Member Past Donor

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2018
    Messages:
    26,989
    Likes Received:
    11,045
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Gender:
    Male
    I believe we are great compared to the rest of the world. I don't care whether someone comes up with some artificial standard that says we are not as great or greater than some other specific country. To me, that is meaningless. We have different values and preferences. What is great for me, may not be so great for you.
     
    Dayton3 likes this.
  23. ECA

    ECA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2018
    Messages:
    31,936
    Likes Received:
    15,596
    Trophy Points:
    113
    He in fact did not mention any in the posts of his that I replied to

    And could you be more vague with your “examples”?
     
  24. ECA

    ECA Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2018
    Messages:
    31,936
    Likes Received:
    15,596
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Such as?
     
  25. Bob0627

    Bob0627 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 28, 2015
    Messages:
    8,576
    Likes Received:
    2,337
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Of course they did. They also decided that corporations (a paper created fiction) have the same protected rights as human beings and that money = speech. That changes nothing I posted.
     

Share This Page