Justice - American style

[Thumpalumpacus]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

True but I bet your opinion would change if it was your house that was invaded and your family member abducted. You wouldn't be much worried about some bribe if that happened to you.

And I bet your opinion would change if that bribe bought his pressing false charges against you.

Add to that the fact that bribery undermines the fair application of all laws, and I'd say it's just as serious, if not as violent.

---

-- and what stories like this make me feel:

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

[Minimalist]

The violence stuff is overstated too.

“The lawyer with the briefcase can steal more money than the man with the gun.”
― Mario Puzo, The Godfather

Bernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff (/ˈmeɪdɒf/;[1] born April 29, 1938) is an American convicted of fraud and a former stockbroker, investment advisor, and financier. He is the former non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock market,[2] and the admitted operator of a Ponzi scheme that is considered to be the largest financial fraud in U.S. history.

Those charged with recovering the missing money believe the investment operation may never have been legitimate.[18] The amount missing from client accounts, including fabricated gains, was almost $65 billion.[

You couldn't carry $65 billion in cash with a tractor-trailer.

[KUSA]

And I bet your opinion would change if that bribe bought his pressing false charges against you.

-- and what stories like this make me feel:

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.

I think you have a misrepresented view of how I feel. I agree with the latter part of your post wholeheartedly. Crooked politicians should be punished severely.

The only "point" that I made was a disagreement with the OP in regards to the bribery being worse than a home invasion coupled with an abduction.

There are few things worse than an interloper in my house.

[Dystopia]

And I bet your opinion would change if that bribe bought his pressing false charges against you.

-- and what stories like this make me feel:

I think you have a misrepresented view of how I feel. I agree with the latter part of your post wholeheartedly. Crooked politicians should be punished severely.

The only "point" that I made was a disagreement with the OP in regards to the bribery being worse than a home invasion coupled with an abduction.

There are few things worse than an interloper in my house.

To be fair I was only addressing that the victim doesn't dictate the sentence - This means that asking person X to put themselves in a potential situation of crime victim is not an accurate way to solve the equation... Rather you should ask "how should society and the law value this crime in a degree of seriousness compared to other? - This crime is more serious because it violates more important human rights and principles than the other" - This would be the right answer in one of my exams [I made a very brief answer to not bore you out] - I hope that cleared things out.

We don't punish crimes because they make the victim feel bad, rather because it hurts society and harms our principles - We don't punish John because he killed Abel, we punish John because he broke the law, he killed, and that makes him a danger for society.

By the way, breaking and abduction could be less serious than bribe depending on many factors - For example, in my country breaking into someone's house and abducting someone will probably get you 10-15 years, less if you show regret and convince the judge to be merciful - A bribe is maybe 1-3 years and almost no one gets convicted to effective jailtime, rather suspended time - But if you commit, let's say, 50 bribes and 1 breaking + abducting the bribe as a continuous crime becomes more serious.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I think you have a misrepresented view of how I feel. I agree with the latter part of your post wholeheartedly. Crooked politicians should be punished severely.

The only "point" that I made was a disagreement with the OP in regards to the bribery being worse than a home invasion coupled with an abduction.

There are few things worse than an interloper in my house.

I don't agree that I misrepresented your point, as I didn't really restate it anyway. What I did was turn your point on its head to show you that looking at things from a personal angle, the crime mentioned in the OP could be every bit as invasive as a home invasion. And worse than a home invasion, you can't just shoot your gun and solve the problem, because the crime has suborned the power of the State to be used against you.

Suborning power is a very serious crime precisely because it opens the portals for other, and greater injustices -- and it is even more serious because it involves leaders violating public trust, which corrodes the ability of government to address issues even when the politicians are honest.

[Creed of Heresy]

Oh, I know. The Wild West was not quite as wild as it is made out to be. Still, the analogy, based on the blown-up not-so-true history of the old west, still fits.

I mean, at this point, the only way I can see the problems of corruption being resolved is to start putting the fear of the American people back into these idiots. A few mystery killings of the most corrupt corporate Kocksuckers later, and watch these shitlords stop accepting bribes, kickbacks, and massive, shadow-contributions.

I deplore violence. But the sad fact of it is, in reaction, sometimes it's necessary. I wouldn't partake in it with glee or joy, and I'd feel remorse. I wouldn't regret it, though...because necessity seems to be pointing towards it. I feel sick even saying this stuff, but...what alternative do we have anymore? The latest midterm elections confirmed my worst fears about the politics in this country; that most people are too fucking lazy to vote out the people they hate, and they would rather stay at home and jerk it or watch football or some bullshit rather than try to oust the destructive leadership of our nation by the simple act of voting.

If Scott Walker, the state governor of the state I live in (Wisconsin) ends up being elected as POTUS in 2016...

Well, I don't have much to live for. And I'm tired of watching my country getting sucked dry by corrupt politicians who no longer work for the people and instead prefer to work for their billionaire masters.

Seriously. What the fuck else are we supposed to do??

Put a few .308s into the guys selling their office the most...I guarantee they'll learn to fear the American people once again.

After all, is this not what the 2nd Amendment is for? Is it not why it was written into law by the founding fathers?

[Creed of Heresy]

And, yes, I know, that's going to be a very unpopular opinion of mine, and people aren't going to like it, I imagine. And I doubt anyone else here will share my sentiment. But you can only handle inequity and injustice for so long before you crack. I'm just wondering how much longer it's going to be before people start taking the pitchforks to the corporate sellouts in office...and as I look around at the actions of the citizens of this country, and their opinions, I fail to see that happening. Perhaps I should let them get fucked over, then. But that would make me just as guilty, just as deserving of being fucked over.

I've been fucked over enough in my life. I've been getting fucked over since 45 minutes after my birth, on a continuous basis. I'm tired of being fucked over. And it surprises me that so many aren't.

[The Grand Nudger]

Driven to desperation, the high ground becomes unimportant. If every proposed action was required to be just then we'd get alot less done, and getting something done can't always wait until you find the right hill to dig your bunker on. I'd say that if you have a range of options, you exhaust those options that you find to be just first, and if that fails, you whip out everything you've got (and do it in the butt - couldn't help it).

I'll support your right to revolution Creed, even if I may not support the revolution you choose to exercise that right in service -of-, or the means by which you do so.

[Dystopia]

And, yes, I know, that's going to be a very unpopular opinion of mine, and people aren't going to like it, I imagine. And I doubt anyone else here will share my sentiment. But you can only handle inequity and injustice for so long before you crack. I'm just wondering how much longer it's going to be before people start taking the pitchforks to the corporate sellouts in office...and as I look around at the actions of the citizens of this country, and their opinions, I fail to see that happening. Perhaps I should let them get fucked over, then. But that would make me just as guilty, just as deserving of being fucked over.

I've been fucked over enough in my life. I've been getting fucked over since 45 minutes after my birth, on a continuous basis. I'm tired of being fucked over. And it surprises me that so many aren't.

This reminds of what happened in Russia in 1917... Seems legit, just remember to not take unwise decisions after the revolution is done.

[Creed of Heresy]

Yeahhh I would have no intent of starting a communist regime. XD

I just want a return to FDR-era socio-democracy again. You know, the time when policies were being enacted to help the majority of the American people; not the influential few.