Comments on: It can’t be said often enough http://www.nobody-knows-anything.com/2009/04/it-cant-be-said-often-enough.html and that's the best news any of us has ever heard Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:35:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Diane http://www.nobody-knows-anything.com/2009/04/it-cant-be-said-often-enough.html/comment-page-1#comment-112101 Diane Tue, 21 Apr 2009 20:09:56 +0000 http://www.nobody-knows-anything.com/?p=1034#comment-112101 If we went the Truth and Reconciliation route -- ie, you come forward and admit what you did, there'll be no prosecution; if we have to come get you, you're going to jail for a very long time -- I would be satisfied. This stuff has to get out in the open. We have to say we did THIS and THIS and THIS and get people on the record as to whether they support it or not. As long as we obfuscate or talk about legality or what have you, it's going to keep going, and that route only ends in far, far worse than we have now. If we went the Truth and Reconciliation route — ie, you come forward and admit what you did, there’ll be no prosecution; if we have to come get you, you’re going to jail for a very long time — I would be satisfied. This stuff has to get out in the open. We have to say we did THIS and THIS and THIS and get people on the record as to whether they support it or not. As long as we obfuscate or talk about legality or what have you, it’s going to keep going, and that route only ends in far, far worse than we have now.

]]> By: CJ http://www.nobody-knows-anything.com/2009/04/it-cant-be-said-often-enough.html/comment-page-1#comment-112090 CJ Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:19:21 +0000 http://www.nobody-knows-anything.com/?p=1034#comment-112090 I feel your anguish. It burns my bushel, too, that so many miscreants get away with horrendous crimes in the name of patriotism. On the other hand, just about every world leader commits what some (usually their opponents or rivals) interpret as crimes against humanity. As a result, there is a tacit agreement that you don't try world leaders unless they have obviously committed war crimes (e.g. genocide) at an inconvenient place at an inconvenient time. This agreement exists so that pre-emptive strikes to avoid prosecutions (i.e. wars) don't occur. We've seen the same here in the U.S. writ smaller. It seems almost inevitable in the post-Watergate era that if the majority in Congress is of a different party than the White House boarder that some sort of political retaliation will occur. Some of it is deserved, some not so much. The net result has been an increasing polarization of our parties...a closing of the ranks. Still, just because you manage to attain high office doesn't mean you have a carte blanche. One of the weakness of our system (as is evidenced by CEOs and their Boards of Directors) is that there are few, if any, consequences of poor performance other than being released from your current position...if then. While we don't want to prosecute the soldiers who are just following what they have been adamantly told are legal orders, we must go after those who give those orders if it's found those order cross the line. What's sad is that other consequences will ensue. Consider...if we choose to go after Cheney, even if he survives the long process of prosecution, he'll not likely have to long endure any punishment. In the wake of the numerous Congressional hearings will be retaliatory hearings for the current or next president of the inconvenient party. Is the momentary, yet satisfying pound of flesh, worth a few more decades of political witch hunts? I have no good answer. I grow weary of our long line of "patriotic" poopy-heads. I'm tired of the loop-hole finders and the technicality-seekers. I'm disgusted by the flouters who don't think the rules are for them. But... I can't help but reflect on the slogan that is on my city's police vehicles: "In step with the community." What if you have a criminal community? What do the police do then? I suppose, despite some high-minded ideals, perhaps the situation is the same in all levels of government: we almost never get the government we want, but instead are gifted with the government we deserve. It says more about us than them. I feel your anguish. It burns my bushel, too, that so many miscreants get away with horrendous crimes in the name of patriotism.

On the other hand, just about every world leader commits what some (usually their opponents or rivals) interpret as crimes against humanity. As a result, there is a tacit agreement that you don’t try world leaders unless they have obviously committed war crimes (e.g. genocide) at an inconvenient place at an inconvenient time. This agreement exists so that pre-emptive strikes to avoid prosecutions (i.e. wars) don’t occur.

We’ve seen the same here in the U.S. writ smaller. It seems almost inevitable in the post-Watergate era that if the majority in Congress is of a different party than the White House boarder that some sort of political retaliation will occur. Some of it is deserved, some not so much. The net result has been an increasing polarization of our parties…a closing of the ranks.

Still, just because you manage to attain high office doesn’t mean you have a carte blanche. One of the weakness of our system (as is evidenced by CEOs and their Boards of Directors) is that there are few, if any, consequences of poor performance other than being released from your current position…if then. While we don’t want to prosecute the soldiers who are just following what they have been adamantly told are legal orders, we must go after those who give those orders if it’s found those order cross the line.

What’s sad is that other consequences will ensue. Consider…if we choose to go after Cheney, even if he survives the long process of prosecution, he’ll not likely have to long endure any punishment. In the wake of the numerous Congressional hearings will be retaliatory hearings for the current or next president of the inconvenient party. Is the momentary, yet satisfying pound of flesh, worth a few more decades of political witch hunts?

I have no good answer. I grow weary of our long line of “patriotic” poopy-heads. I’m tired of the loop-hole finders and the technicality-seekers. I’m disgusted by the flouters who don’t think the rules are for them. But…

I can’t help but reflect on the slogan that is on my city’s police vehicles: “In step with the community.” What if you have a criminal community? What do the police do then? I suppose, despite some high-minded ideals, perhaps the situation is the same in all levels of government: we almost never get the government we want, but instead are gifted with the government we deserve. It says more about us than them.

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