Matthew

Ok so you're in the "minors can lawfully consent" camp. Way to stay on brand.

Of course the usual "he didn't rape anyone, but if he did then I don't care" defense is the classic right wing position on republican politicians raping people. No wonder they keep doing it.

He's essentially admitted to paying prostitutes. Claimed it was in his younger days (lol) but all signs point toward it being the only way he ever has sex with a woman. If he is actually a heavy consumer of black market prostitution, then pretty unlikely he's checking their IDs at the door.

India was the most productive economy in the world from the mid 1600s to the early 1700. Under colonialism, tens of millions died from colonial policies, and most of the population was turned into agricultural workers.

Massive numbers of people. Continued impact from destruction of colonialism. A society dominated by their own backwards looking right wing conservatives. The people emigrating to the US from India are mostly a highly educated middle class of technical expertise not representative of Indian culture at large.

This topic is further proof that every right wing accusation is actually a plan and a confession.

Why would a CEO making tons money off of killing people want to shoot someone?

I don't believe shame has any societal value and I think most of the insecurities people carry in life stem from our culture's misplaced reliance on shame.

I agree, though to be clear I do think vigilante justice ought to be illegal and if the killer is found he ought to be fully prosecuted and that the police should fully use their normal effort at capturing him. Rule of law and due process are valuable parts of our political culture. In this sense the classic folk hero rebel vigilante is willing to sacrifice his own freedom and safety for his just cause. But yeah people overwhelmingly seem to be hoping he stays at large.

Well I think that's what we're witnessing, in the only language they can hear. I actually don't know of any person who has ever been shamed harder than this CEO. Shot like a dog on the street and then ruthlessly ridiculed publicly by millions of people. Bin Laden's killing was less celebrated by Americans.

In its original usage, woke simply meant being aware of societal injustice of any kind. The fascists see woke as anything that would improve the lives of ordinary people in society. They are especially triggered into an emotional frenzy by any topic pertaining to race and gender.

True. If someone said "they deserved it" are they actively threatening others by saying so?

Exactly.

Well ok but we are privileged bystanders able to post navel gazing reflections on when, if ever, violence is appropriate as a tool against oppression. History shows why it's not the preferred method in modern times, but it also shows how effective it sometimes has been at ending oppressive systems.

This is the slippery slope logical fallacy. Those calling for violence ARE certainly going to believe that acts of violence are justified, but those who believe an act of violence is justified are not necessarily supporting a blanket call for violence.

Calling for violence is calling for violence. For probably 99.9% of people there is a point at which they will view an act of violence as morally justified (execution, war, uprisings, self defense, etc). Approving of those acts does not equal a blanket call for violence.

Yes they are. Yes they do, if they can. That's your and my privilege, as people who presumably aren't facing severe oppression.

Ah fighting bureaucracy with bureaucracy. I'm not opposed. I'd go way further even and would like to see a constitutional amendment that created a 4th branch of government that with independent ombudsman, audit, ethics, and efficiency powers. These things have always been lacking in our constitutional design, which placed too much trust in the power of federalism to solve everything.

Presidential powers have been expanding beyond the consitution for 240 years. The "Conservatives" are adhering so closely to having the government do less that they seem willing to permanently hand the power of the purse over to one person. Trump has been setting the stage for fight over radically expanded impoundment powers. So that laws and funding Congress pass would basically be optional by the president and he could use that money for other purposes. It's tough to imagine that even republicans in Congress would go along with their institutions core powers being stripped away.

Can anyone explain to me how the DOGE is meant to work? The Congress passes laws. Some of those laws create new programs. The Executive branch carries out the laws that Congress make. Unilaterally cutting programs and regulatory agencies that were created by statute is not within the Constitutional powers of the Executive Branch. Granted, with a majority of Congress Republican for the next couple years the DOGE could coordinate with Congress, but how long will members of Congress be interested in having their agenda decided by an ad hoc executive agency?

There is a difference between calling for violence and viewing a violent act as justice. Do you think the rebels who just violently overthrew Syria's Bashar Al Assad are immoral murderers or is it ok to fight against a violent dictatorship?

Yes please get rid of both of my Iowa senators.

Yes, give me those delicious downvotes. Interesting how killing people by denying them the medical coverage they paid for is just a normal business practice to you.

It's perfectly ethical to have solidarity with the millions being ruthlessly exploited by these corporations. The reactionary response would be to support the status quo under the guise of liberal due process etc. If the goverment isn't going to ever go after these turds then I will cheer on anyone who does.

Sure Im fine rendering judgment on his actions and anyone else enabling the kind of harmful amoral BS. Two steps forward, one step back. France never returned to its pre-revolution system. But more to the point, guillotine references are simply a reminder that when pushed to extremes of desperation by societal elites such as with the US healthcare industry, even the non-violent moderate population at large will start to eagerly support reciprocal violence against those responsible. If the political system for decades enables and empowers these kinds of companies to profit off of people's death and misery, then the people will inevitably support options beyond the political system.