In 1989 I was a reporter on a Contra Costa County newspaper. I lived in shared housing in El Cerrito. One day I came home to find a several-page, single-space letter on my desk, a crude film script of a snuff film in which the victim's name was Martha. I knew who did it, a guy upstairs in the house. I spent that night at a friend's home. I phoned my editor, my lawyer, and my therapist. I had no legal recourse. Free speech, threat of violence implicit but not explicit, Contra Costa County DA would not be likely to prosecute. I took 3 days off work, hired a gang of very large Oakland guys to move my stuff into storage, spent the following month staying with friends while looking for a place to live. I took a women's self-defense class, because I had No. Legal. Recourse. I want Gosar prosecuted with all possible legal recourse. All. Legal. Recourse.
On the web page of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: " Please note that it’s a federal crime to threaten the life of a Member or staffer, and if callers make threats, either on the phone or on a voicemail, they will be prosecuted."
I can't help but think back to 1954 of the words spoken from Joseph Welch, U.S. Army chief counsel, during the Joseph McCarthy communist trials against innocent American citizen. Welch’s words to McCarthy, “At long last, have you left no sense of decency” likely ended the communist witch hunt. Today, however, with the increased moral degradation of political and extreme radical groups, we’re not surprised that they’d laugh at those words and celebrate their defiance. If we do not aggressively prosecute and punish those who try to normalize horrific actions and behaviors, it will get worse than it already is. Every one of the individuals in this great post act as though they are immune to accountability, they've seen many before them get away with immoral, illegal and horrific acts, including those in the last administration. It’s time our country shows them they are not.
Susan, Welch's question to McCarthy -- "have you no sense of decency?" -- presupposes a common understanding of "decency." The McCarthy communist witch hunts were a moral stain on our history. They ended because the American public came to see that stain. McCarthy violated our shared standard of decency. He trampled on the common good. The question today is whether we still have a shared standard of decency.
The question is indeed if we still have a shared standard of decency, with such division it's difficult to believe that we do. I am, however, an optimist. i sincerely believe that most Americans will fight for truth and do what is right. I hope I'm not proven wrong for all our sake.
.....but after the exposure on TV, most Americans wanted to end that overreach into personal lives; however, today that reach seems to be just getting started, again [Roe], on BOTH sides of the aisle [vaccine] ?
Kind'a makes you wonder when SCOTUS will rule that shooting people in public is protected political speech - where each bullet is a vote! When these "conservatives" embrace the "Stars & Bars," parading it through the Rotunda during a violent insurrection, how can we not recognize their clear message and intention ‽ Not China, not Russia, not even ISIS are more dangerous enemies to this Constitutional, democratic, republic - they're only these "conservatives'" best allies, in just the same way that what these "conservatives'" call their devil is the best friend that what these "conservatives" claim to be their god ever had.
DZK, although history never repeats itself, it does tend to rhyme -- to follow certain patterns. One pattern is when small minorities are able to intimidate a majority into silence, because they're armed and dangerous and have given their own moral compasses to a strongman who tells them what is right and wrong. We are not there yet, and the optimist in me says we won't be. But we do need to be vigilant.
I really don’t see the signs for optimism. The Rittenhouse case seems like another nail in the coffin to me. We are witnessing something very frightening and there is nothing that I see to interrupt that worry with hope.
When I saw the newspaper picture of Rittenhouse in the street holding the rifle, with a crowd of people in the background, I thought, how is that OK in the country I've lived in for 68 years? It's only wrong if you shoot someone?
This is what the republicans have done to our country. And the Democrats spend too much time pretending they get support if they proclaim their love of the misinterpreted 2nd Amendment. Did you ever think 20 first-graders and some of the school staff would be slaughtered by gun and this country would do nothing! to change the idiotic gun culture? I’m utterly ashamed of all of this.
Only republicans are under the delusion that the US is looked up to by other countries. Other countries are flabbergasted as much as we are how deeply we are falling. I have a few friends in the UK and one in Australia, and they’re in disbelief at what is happening here.
Censure is ridiculous. Full expulsion! It worries me to no end that the Democrats prefer wrist slapping at a time when these very clearly unhinged psychopaths are allowed to threaten, damage, murder, violate the constitution at the highest level and remain on the streets. Are our military and police forces at such a level of mafia/delusion that there is no one to stop this!?
Is the preference for civil war? We were attacked! There has been actual attempted assassination and threats of it. Are politicians just sitting around figuring out if death attempts (Jan 6 and many others against leftist protesters) is part of a person’s right?!
We need immediate action against these criminals. There is no reason whatsoever that Trump et al can’t wait for his trial while under custody. There are laws that should be addressed here but they are not.
The judge in the Rittenhouse trial is as nutty as the Pillow Guy. Who set that up? The American people need answers. We demand answers or we will be without 2 parties. Do something or you will witness the collapse of the Democratic party as well. We aren’t going to support a party that doesn’t protect us or hold high crime criminals accountable.
They know that they cannot legitimately win. 'The best defense is a 'good' offense'. Life is a big bad football game, with macho behavior, threats, and ultimately violence. They just wanna 'win' and don't understand that it is not really winning. It is dominating and destroying. bullying and trumping the opposition, using every dishonest dirty trick they can get away with. It is 'honor' among thieves and ultimately no love at all. Betrayal and harm.
There may be free speech for Paul Gosar, but membership of the United States Congress requires a far higher standard. I think an explicit rule should be passed, that if any member threatens or insinuates violence against another member of government - or against anyone for that matter - that an investigation is in order with the possible consequence of expulsion. In the past I suppose such behavior was unthinkable so there was no need for such a rule, but it appears that times may have changed. I think there is a sea change happening in American politics, an evolution towards a just society, but unfortunately some are going to resist by suggesting violence and we have to protect ourselves: these individuals do not belong in Congress.
The US Constitution requirement of a 2/3rds vote to expel a member is too high a bar in this case. Censure requires a simple majority. I think that is why it was chosen instead of expulsion.
Under House rules, ethics violations can lead to reprimands, fines, censure or removal from office. Threats can also constitute felony violations punishable by imprisonment. Pelosi has called for a criminal investigation.
The US Constitution requires a 2/3rds vote to expel a member of the House of Representatives. It is really tough to expel a member -- only five expulsions in American history, three for supporting the Confederacy, two for bribery. Censure requires a simple majority, which is probably why the Democrats are pursuing this course of action.
It seems that Paul Gosar is dangerous, but based on what you have said, I don't think law enforcement can do anything about it at this time. If law enforcement heard him actually plan to commit an act of criminal violence, they could act, but right now, the First Amendment would bar prosecution. Our legal system just doesn't have a mechanism for dealing with this. Trump & Co. seem to know how to stay just inside the boundaries of the law, while subtly provoking ordinary private citizens to do their dirty work for them.
I'm glad that Congress will vote on censuring him; it should be unanimous in favor, but unfortunately it won't. Republicans would rather censure their colleagues for voting for the infrastructure bill than for supporting political violence.
What elected officials, candidates, and the news media can and should do is relentlessly and vociferously call out this support of political violence as endangering our national security.
Under House rules, ethics violations can lead to reprimands, fines, censure or removal from office. Threats can also constitute felony violations punishable by imprisonment. Pelosi has called for a criminal investigation.
I am disappointed that Merrick Garland hasn’t brought more charges against officials who clearly committed treason, assault, contempt of Congress, etc. I can understand he may be reluctant to appear to be purging political rivals and he may wish to avoid creating martyrs, but the behavior is criminal. Not holding them accountable does great harm to the public’s trust in government.
What I remember from last November's elections was a sense of dread mixed with bit of fear by just seeing so many gigantic pickup trucks cruising the streets sporting their MAGA/Trump flags. It felt like a show of force, just daring you to a challenge them. And in my neighborhood, for the most part, the only election signs were for local races, with very few signs for the presidential race. It seemed as if everyone was definitely laying low, trying not to draw attention to whatever political affiliations they might have. Unfortunately this sense of dread has not gone away with everything happening this past year. Even if voting rights reform is passed, I fear the upcoming mid-term elections will be even more contentious, and prone to much greater violence. The only way I see things improving is if and when those responsible for inciting and planning the Jan 6th insurrection are held strictly to account, and soon!
I agree with you, James. There must be consequences for insurrectionists and violence, and even threats of violence. I live in a very blue area in a fairly blue state and just today saw a pickup truck with a flag that was as big as the truck.. I have a flag flying on my front porch. But that is all I want, to honor our veterans and country. Those who weaponize /outsize our national flag as if they own it just don't seem to get it.
There is an old term that pretty much fits people who act like that: "jejune".
"If you describe something or someone as jejune, you are criticizing them for being very simple and unsophisticated. [formal, disapproval] ... jejune generalizations. Synonyms: simple, silly, juvenile, "
Bad enough if they only stopped there. But there is violence too, and the threat of violence. Violent behavior is beyond "jejune."
I live in a Red area. I took down my "Biden" sign but left up a sign for a local candidate. My neighbor's young daughter left up her "Black Lives Matter" sign. She has more courage than I do.
Good for her! but there are red places and there are really red scary places. Only you know how much risk you want to take. There are stories in the news often enough about people being harassed over children wearing masks. I live in a fairly leftie area and took a risk putting up a sign saying I support our local law enforcement. In my small town I cut the hair of my neighbor who is a policeman. He has never shot anyone, only had to draw his gun once in 30 years. some people were caught taking lawn signs like mine down. They were teenagers who were reacting to the awful Floyd murder.
There were signs at a protest in a nearby city saying 'There is no such thing as a good cop'. I disagreed. That was a year ago. My sign is still there on my front lawn. We need to avoid knee jerk thinking and behavior.
I previously said in this forum that at best the law can only set the low bar for behavior; you cannot legislate good behavior. Ultimately, society depends on decency, not law. This is in no small part because, as history shows, indecent people create bad laws (e.g., slavery, women not having the vote, ...), and enforce good laws badly (e.g., police violence, differences in sentencing, ...). The problem here is the lack of universal, irrepressible outrage among congresspersons, the lack of decency that makes it okay to threaten and inspire and direct violence against members of government and against the operation of government and those in government don't say this is a line that cannot be crossed. We have a decency problem in the United States. We have had it since the beginning, we have nurtured it with the false ethos of rugged individualism, and the abandonment of society for the glorification of the individual at any and all costs. We need a social revolution. We knew this in the 60s, tried and failed to get far enough. The current cohort of young adults is appropriately disgusted, and that is our only hope.
People of all ages are appropriately disgusted. We older folks are part of the continuing evolution /revolution. Never suggest that older people are not sentient beings who can see what is going on! and while it is true that we cannot legislate what is in a person's heart, I believe that it is possible, no, necessary, to legislate good behavior. Lynching is against the law, as is stealing, harassing to the point of oppression, where the target(s) are running from their neighborhood or job,(as in the case of election officials). Laws regarding hate speech are not reserved for only racism or sexism or religious intolerance and other hateful isms. If they are, there needs to be a change. It is stupid to have to codify every bit of hateful behavior. We know about intent! If someone is truly mentally ill, they have no business owning an assault rifle! Bad 'justice' as practiced by jaded, money hungry, unethical lawyers is a very big problem in this country! When will the courts see through the 'dream teams' hired by wealthy crooks and stop all the harmful, crime enabling frivolous suits? We are hog tied with legal incompetence and it's attendant harm to decency and security.
Today's young adults don't give us retired hippies a tenth of the credit we deserve for the advances we made in our time, and that irritates the crap out of me. But today's cancer is worse, and those of us who have been around long enough to have accumulated some benefit, some wealth, and some influence are not getting today's job done at all. We will not change the prevailing culture of the country a second time. They might. Their disaffection might be the only thing powerful enough and frankly desperate enough to overcome the blatant malfeasance now enjoying government sponsorship via the GOP.
As for legislating good behavior, I stand by what I said. The examples given here (NOT lynching, NOT stealing, ...) illustrate my point that law only sets the low bar beneath which we refuse to officially tolerate behavior (except when we do). You cannot legislate generosity of spirit, compassion, the Golden Rule, or anything approaching positive ethics. The law cannot say what it means to be a good person. Where that is attempted, it inescapably has the unfortunate reality of being a theocracy. Non-theocratic law can only say what is so bad that if you get caught doing it, and if you are not protected by some combination of money, influence, race, gender, and other morally irrelevant factors, you will be punished.
Brilliant analysis, as usual. Once again, I read your newsletter while thinking to myself how much progress could come to us if more members of Congress and the Biden Administration read it too. Keep on keeping on. This is wisdom that is utterly lacking in most other public platforms, including, unfortunately, the major news media.
When I first heard about Paul Gosar’s “cartoon”, my thoughts immediately went to Gabby Giffords.
Accountability, as Jennifer Gosar points out, is seriously missing. Until people are held to account this madness will, not only continue, but escalate. In terms of crime and war it is called just that, escalation.
Enough us enough! It is beyond time to call these people out and hold them accountable for their actions and their words (cartoons, too!).
Democrats believe in nonviolent civil disobedience, but also the Rule of Law. Gosar must be held accountable. Will this require GOP votes? If they do not vote for censure, Republicans have lost their moral compass beyond doubt.
In 1989 I was a reporter on a Contra Costa County newspaper. I lived in shared housing in El Cerrito. One day I came home to find a several-page, single-space letter on my desk, a crude film script of a snuff film in which the victim's name was Martha. I knew who did it, a guy upstairs in the house. I spent that night at a friend's home. I phoned my editor, my lawyer, and my therapist. I had no legal recourse. Free speech, threat of violence implicit but not explicit, Contra Costa County DA would not be likely to prosecute. I took 3 days off work, hired a gang of very large Oakland guys to move my stuff into storage, spent the following month staying with friends while looking for a place to live. I took a women's self-defense class, because I had No. Legal. Recourse. I want Gosar prosecuted with all possible legal recourse. All. Legal. Recourse.
On the web page of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: " Please note that it’s a federal crime to threaten the life of a Member or staffer, and if callers make threats, either on the phone or on a voicemail, they will be prosecuted."
I can't help but think back to 1954 of the words spoken from Joseph Welch, U.S. Army chief counsel, during the Joseph McCarthy communist trials against innocent American citizen. Welch’s words to McCarthy, “At long last, have you left no sense of decency” likely ended the communist witch hunt. Today, however, with the increased moral degradation of political and extreme radical groups, we’re not surprised that they’d laugh at those words and celebrate their defiance. If we do not aggressively prosecute and punish those who try to normalize horrific actions and behaviors, it will get worse than it already is. Every one of the individuals in this great post act as though they are immune to accountability, they've seen many before them get away with immoral, illegal and horrific acts, including those in the last administration. It’s time our country shows them they are not.
Susan, Welch's question to McCarthy -- "have you no sense of decency?" -- presupposes a common understanding of "decency." The McCarthy communist witch hunts were a moral stain on our history. They ended because the American public came to see that stain. McCarthy violated our shared standard of decency. He trampled on the common good. The question today is whether we still have a shared standard of decency.
The question is indeed if we still have a shared standard of decency, with such division it's difficult to believe that we do. I am, however, an optimist. i sincerely believe that most Americans will fight for truth and do what is right. I hope I'm not proven wrong for all our sake.
.....but after the exposure on TV, most Americans wanted to end that overreach into personal lives; however, today that reach seems to be just getting started, again [Roe], on BOTH sides of the aisle [vaccine] ?
....yep, whoever thought Jim Crow would be allowed to raise its head again--yet, the laws are already passed.
Funny you should bring up Joe today. I just got a PBS/American Experience invite to view their doc on him, the spiritual head of the GOP ..
Kind'a makes you wonder when SCOTUS will rule that shooting people in public is protected political speech - where each bullet is a vote! When these "conservatives" embrace the "Stars & Bars," parading it through the Rotunda during a violent insurrection, how can we not recognize their clear message and intention ‽ Not China, not Russia, not even ISIS are more dangerous enemies to this Constitutional, democratic, republic - they're only these "conservatives'" best allies, in just the same way that what these "conservatives'" call their devil is the best friend that what these "conservatives" claim to be their god ever had.
DZK, although history never repeats itself, it does tend to rhyme -- to follow certain patterns. One pattern is when small minorities are able to intimidate a majority into silence, because they're armed and dangerous and have given their own moral compasses to a strongman who tells them what is right and wrong. We are not there yet, and the optimist in me says we won't be. But we do need to be vigilant.
I really don’t see the signs for optimism. The Rittenhouse case seems like another nail in the coffin to me. We are witnessing something very frightening and there is nothing that I see to interrupt that worry with hope.
I agree and I am not a pessimist either. My opt/pessimism meter fluctuates, but usually in the neutral zone.
Thank you, Mr Reich.
And we know what they are 'conserving'.
When I saw the newspaper picture of Rittenhouse in the street holding the rifle, with a crowd of people in the background, I thought, how is that OK in the country I've lived in for 68 years? It's only wrong if you shoot someone?
This is what the republicans have done to our country. And the Democrats spend too much time pretending they get support if they proclaim their love of the misinterpreted 2nd Amendment. Did you ever think 20 first-graders and some of the school staff would be slaughtered by gun and this country would do nothing! to change the idiotic gun culture? I’m utterly ashamed of all of this.
I'm ashamed at what this represents about our country... to the world.
Only republicans are under the delusion that the US is looked up to by other countries. Other countries are flabbergasted as much as we are how deeply we are falling. I have a few friends in the UK and one in Australia, and they’re in disbelief at what is happening here.
What was even more shocking to me were the rifle toting/armed protesters INSIDE the Michigan Capitol building.
The House select committee should be tying this to the insurrectionists inside the US Capitol.
The first appears to have been a practice for the second.
Censure is ridiculous. Full expulsion! It worries me to no end that the Democrats prefer wrist slapping at a time when these very clearly unhinged psychopaths are allowed to threaten, damage, murder, violate the constitution at the highest level and remain on the streets. Are our military and police forces at such a level of mafia/delusion that there is no one to stop this!?
Is the preference for civil war? We were attacked! There has been actual attempted assassination and threats of it. Are politicians just sitting around figuring out if death attempts (Jan 6 and many others against leftist protesters) is part of a person’s right?!
We need immediate action against these criminals. There is no reason whatsoever that Trump et al can’t wait for his trial while under custody. There are laws that should be addressed here but they are not.
The judge in the Rittenhouse trial is as nutty as the Pillow Guy. Who set that up? The American people need answers. We demand answers or we will be without 2 parties. Do something or you will witness the collapse of the Democratic party as well. We aren’t going to support a party that doesn’t protect us or hold high crime criminals accountable.
You took the words right out of my mouth! Injustice breeds discontent.
I think fear is slowing down the pursuit and execution of justice. If nothing is done to hold them accountable, there will be trouble.
I believe Issac Asimov said it best “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” I will leave it there.
They know that they cannot legitimately win. 'The best defense is a 'good' offense'. Life is a big bad football game, with macho behavior, threats, and ultimately violence. They just wanna 'win' and don't understand that it is not really winning. It is dominating and destroying. bullying and trumping the opposition, using every dishonest dirty trick they can get away with. It is 'honor' among thieves and ultimately no love at all. Betrayal and harm.
There may be free speech for Paul Gosar, but membership of the United States Congress requires a far higher standard. I think an explicit rule should be passed, that if any member threatens or insinuates violence against another member of government - or against anyone for that matter - that an investigation is in order with the possible consequence of expulsion. In the past I suppose such behavior was unthinkable so there was no need for such a rule, but it appears that times may have changed. I think there is a sea change happening in American politics, an evolution towards a just society, but unfortunately some are going to resist by suggesting violence and we have to protect ourselves: these individuals do not belong in Congress.
Geordie, I agree. There's a good case that Gosar should not just be censured but expelled.
The US Constitution requirement of a 2/3rds vote to expel a member is too high a bar in this case. Censure requires a simple majority. I think that is why it was chosen instead of expulsion.
Under House rules, ethics violations can lead to reprimands, fines, censure or removal from office. Threats can also constitute felony violations punishable by imprisonment. Pelosi has called for a criminal investigation.
The US Constitution requires a 2/3rds vote to expel a member of the House of Representatives. It is really tough to expel a member -- only five expulsions in American history, three for supporting the Confederacy, two for bribery. Censure requires a simple majority, which is probably why the Democrats are pursuing this course of action.
It seems that no one is being held accountable and responsible for their bad behavior. In some cases, the bad behavior is celebrated!
It seems that Paul Gosar is dangerous, but based on what you have said, I don't think law enforcement can do anything about it at this time. If law enforcement heard him actually plan to commit an act of criminal violence, they could act, but right now, the First Amendment would bar prosecution. Our legal system just doesn't have a mechanism for dealing with this. Trump & Co. seem to know how to stay just inside the boundaries of the law, while subtly provoking ordinary private citizens to do their dirty work for them.
I'm glad that Congress will vote on censuring him; it should be unanimous in favor, but unfortunately it won't. Republicans would rather censure their colleagues for voting for the infrastructure bill than for supporting political violence.
What elected officials, candidates, and the news media can and should do is relentlessly and vociferously call out this support of political violence as endangering our national security.
Under House rules, ethics violations can lead to reprimands, fines, censure or removal from office. Threats can also constitute felony violations punishable by imprisonment. Pelosi has called for a criminal investigation.
I am disappointed that Merrick Garland hasn’t brought more charges against officials who clearly committed treason, assault, contempt of Congress, etc. I can understand he may be reluctant to appear to be purging political rivals and he may wish to avoid creating martyrs, but the behavior is criminal. Not holding them accountable does great harm to the public’s trust in government.
What I remember from last November's elections was a sense of dread mixed with bit of fear by just seeing so many gigantic pickup trucks cruising the streets sporting their MAGA/Trump flags. It felt like a show of force, just daring you to a challenge them. And in my neighborhood, for the most part, the only election signs were for local races, with very few signs for the presidential race. It seemed as if everyone was definitely laying low, trying not to draw attention to whatever political affiliations they might have. Unfortunately this sense of dread has not gone away with everything happening this past year. Even if voting rights reform is passed, I fear the upcoming mid-term elections will be even more contentious, and prone to much greater violence. The only way I see things improving is if and when those responsible for inciting and planning the Jan 6th insurrection are held strictly to account, and soon!
I agree with you, James. There must be consequences for insurrectionists and violence, and even threats of violence. I live in a very blue area in a fairly blue state and just today saw a pickup truck with a flag that was as big as the truck.. I have a flag flying on my front porch. But that is all I want, to honor our veterans and country. Those who weaponize /outsize our national flag as if they own it just don't seem to get it.
There is an old term that pretty much fits people who act like that: "jejune".
"If you describe something or someone as jejune, you are criticizing them for being very simple and unsophisticated. [formal, disapproval] ... jejune generalizations. Synonyms: simple, silly, juvenile, "
Bad enough if they only stopped there. But there is violence too, and the threat of violence. Violent behavior is beyond "jejune."
I live in a Red area. I took down my "Biden" sign but left up a sign for a local candidate. My neighbor's young daughter left up her "Black Lives Matter" sign. She has more courage than I do.
It's sad we even have to consider these things!
Good for her! but there are red places and there are really red scary places. Only you know how much risk you want to take. There are stories in the news often enough about people being harassed over children wearing masks. I live in a fairly leftie area and took a risk putting up a sign saying I support our local law enforcement. In my small town I cut the hair of my neighbor who is a policeman. He has never shot anyone, only had to draw his gun once in 30 years. some people were caught taking lawn signs like mine down. They were teenagers who were reacting to the awful Floyd murder.
There were signs at a protest in a nearby city saying 'There is no such thing as a good cop'. I disagreed. That was a year ago. My sign is still there on my front lawn. We need to avoid knee jerk thinking and behavior.
I previously said in this forum that at best the law can only set the low bar for behavior; you cannot legislate good behavior. Ultimately, society depends on decency, not law. This is in no small part because, as history shows, indecent people create bad laws (e.g., slavery, women not having the vote, ...), and enforce good laws badly (e.g., police violence, differences in sentencing, ...). The problem here is the lack of universal, irrepressible outrage among congresspersons, the lack of decency that makes it okay to threaten and inspire and direct violence against members of government and against the operation of government and those in government don't say this is a line that cannot be crossed. We have a decency problem in the United States. We have had it since the beginning, we have nurtured it with the false ethos of rugged individualism, and the abandonment of society for the glorification of the individual at any and all costs. We need a social revolution. We knew this in the 60s, tried and failed to get far enough. The current cohort of young adults is appropriately disgusted, and that is our only hope.
People of all ages are appropriately disgusted. We older folks are part of the continuing evolution /revolution. Never suggest that older people are not sentient beings who can see what is going on! and while it is true that we cannot legislate what is in a person's heart, I believe that it is possible, no, necessary, to legislate good behavior. Lynching is against the law, as is stealing, harassing to the point of oppression, where the target(s) are running from their neighborhood or job,(as in the case of election officials). Laws regarding hate speech are not reserved for only racism or sexism or religious intolerance and other hateful isms. If they are, there needs to be a change. It is stupid to have to codify every bit of hateful behavior. We know about intent! If someone is truly mentally ill, they have no business owning an assault rifle! Bad 'justice' as practiced by jaded, money hungry, unethical lawyers is a very big problem in this country! When will the courts see through the 'dream teams' hired by wealthy crooks and stop all the harmful, crime enabling frivolous suits? We are hog tied with legal incompetence and it's attendant harm to decency and security.
Today's young adults don't give us retired hippies a tenth of the credit we deserve for the advances we made in our time, and that irritates the crap out of me. But today's cancer is worse, and those of us who have been around long enough to have accumulated some benefit, some wealth, and some influence are not getting today's job done at all. We will not change the prevailing culture of the country a second time. They might. Their disaffection might be the only thing powerful enough and frankly desperate enough to overcome the blatant malfeasance now enjoying government sponsorship via the GOP.
As for legislating good behavior, I stand by what I said. The examples given here (NOT lynching, NOT stealing, ...) illustrate my point that law only sets the low bar beneath which we refuse to officially tolerate behavior (except when we do). You cannot legislate generosity of spirit, compassion, the Golden Rule, or anything approaching positive ethics. The law cannot say what it means to be a good person. Where that is attempted, it inescapably has the unfortunate reality of being a theocracy. Non-theocratic law can only say what is so bad that if you get caught doing it, and if you are not protected by some combination of money, influence, race, gender, and other morally irrelevant factors, you will be punished.
Brilliant analysis, as usual. Once again, I read your newsletter while thinking to myself how much progress could come to us if more members of Congress and the Biden Administration read it too. Keep on keeping on. This is wisdom that is utterly lacking in most other public platforms, including, unfortunately, the major news media.
When I first heard about Paul Gosar’s “cartoon”, my thoughts immediately went to Gabby Giffords.
Accountability, as Jennifer Gosar points out, is seriously missing. Until people are held to account this madness will, not only continue, but escalate. In terms of crime and war it is called just that, escalation.
Enough us enough! It is beyond time to call these people out and hold them accountable for their actions and their words (cartoons, too!).
Democrats believe in nonviolent civil disobedience, but also the Rule of Law. Gosar must be held accountable. Will this require GOP votes? If they do not vote for censure, Republicans have lost their moral compass beyond doubt.