Friday, June 24, 2016

Is it true that people who are wealthy and have connections get a less severe punishment for doing something wrong compared to the “avera…


Is it true that people who are wealthy and have connections get a less severe punishment for doing … by Ed Caruthers

Answer by Ed Caruthers:

This certainly happens sometimes. We see examples. E.g., Google “6 month sentence for rape”.

The justice system pretty consistently give harsher sentences to those considered (by the judge or jury) to be “bad people”. And the justice system often gives lighter sentences to those considered “good people”. “Bad people” are assumed to present a stronger risk of hurting others in the future. “Good people” are assumed to have learned their lessons and to not present a future risk. It’s assumed that “bad people” will never be productive. It’s assumed that “good people” will go on to work at good jobs, pay taxes, raise good kids, an maybe even do charity work. It’s often believed that sending “good people” to jail is inappropriate.

I might not object to this, if wealth and race weren’t so strongly correlated with judgments about who the good people and the bad people are. See a book length treatment of this subject, The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap

by Matt Taibbi and Molly Crabapple

Is it true that people who are wealthy and have connections get a less severe punishment for doing something wrong compared to the “avera…


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For those who despise all Republican candidates: Why?


Why do people hate Republican candidates? : by Ed Caruthers

Answer by Ed Caruthers:

I was going to say that I don’t despise all Republican candidates, that I almost like Kasich, that I merely disagree with Rubio’s positions, and that it’s only Carson, Cruz, and the Big D that are irrational enough to despise. 

But the truth is, all the candidates are chasing the votes of the most irrational primary voters. 

  • All the candidates are pledged to reducing health care for the poor. 
  • All the candidates are pledged to lowering taxes for the very rich while balancing the budget by reducing services for the poor.
  • All the candidates support current loopholes that make it easier for criminals, crazies, and children to get firearms.
  • None of the candidates have denounced restrictive voter registration laws. 
  • None of the candidates have said, “Yes, global warming is happening.  We’re not in favor of any of the proposed solutions, so we have an obligation to develop solutions we can support.”
  • None of the candidates condemned Kim Davis or said, “Do your job or resign.”
  • None of the candidates have said, “Of course evolution happened.  Forcing public schools to teach your kids something else is child abuse.”
  • None of the candidates have said, “Gays are people and have the same rights as everyone else in this country.”
  • None of the candidates have said, “If you are a racist, I don’t want your contributions;  I don’t want your vote;  I don’t want you in the GOP.”

So, yes, I really do despise all the Republican Presidential candidates … and most Republican candidates for state and local offices.

For those who despise all Republican candidates: Why?


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from For those who despise all Republican candidates: Why?

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Is it true that people who are wealthy and have connections get a less severe punishment for doing something wrong compared to the “avera…

Is it true that people who are wealthy and have connections get a less severe punishment for doing … by Ed Caruthers

Answer by Ed Caruthers:

This certainly happens sometimes. We see examples. E.g., Google “6 month sentence for rape”.

The justice system pretty consistently give harsher sentences to those considered (by the judge or jury) to be “bad people”. And the justice system often gives lighter sentences to those considered “good people”. “Bad people” are assumed to present a stronger risk of hurting others in the future. “Good people” are assumed to have learned their lessons and to not present a future risk. It’s assumed that “bad people” will never be productive. It’s assumed that “good people” will go on to work at good jobs, pay taxes, raise good kids, an maybe even do charity work. It’s often believed that sending “good people” to jail is inappropriate.

I might not object to this, if wealth and race weren’t so strongly correlated with judgments about who the good people and the bad people are. See a book length treatment of this subject, The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gap

by Matt Taibbi and Molly Crabapple

Is it true that people who are wealthy and have connections get a less severe punishment for doing something wrong compared to the "avera…


Filed under: Uncategorized

For those who despise all Republican candidates: Why?

Why do people hate Republican candidates? : by Ed Caruthers

Answer by Ed Caruthers:

I was going to say that I don't despise all Republican candidates, that I almost like Kasich, that I merely disagree with Rubio's positions, and that it's only Carson, Cruz, and the Big D that are irrational enough to despise. 

But the truth is, all the candidates are chasing the votes of the most irrational primary voters. 

  • All the candidates are pledged to reducing health care for the poor. 
  • All the candidates are pledged to lowering taxes for the very rich while balancing the budget by reducing services for the poor.
  • All the candidates support current loopholes that make it easier for criminals, crazies, and children to get firearms.
  • None of the candidates have denounced restrictive voter registration laws. 
  • None of the candidates have said, "Yes, global warming is happening.  We're not in favor of any of the proposed solutions, so we have an obligation to develop solutions we can support."
  • None of the candidates condemned Kim Davis or said, "Do your job or resign."
  • None of the candidates have said, "Of course evolution happened.  Forcing public schools to teach your kids something else is child abuse."
  • None of the candidates have said, "Gays are people and have the same rights as everyone else in this country."
  • None of the candidates have said, "If you are a racist, I don't want your contributions;  I don't want your vote;  I don't want you in the GOP."

So, yes, I really do despise all the Republican Presidential candidates . . . and most Republican candidates for state and local offices.

For those who despise all Republican candidates: Why?


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