this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2023
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politics

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[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 183 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Doesn’t matter. This is America where things like that are ignored. This is how people like Clarence Thomas can keep their job. Corruption and criminality are rewarded in America. But only if you’re in politics.

[–] IronCorgi@kbin.social 88 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seriously anyone remember the issue with Emoluments? They were specifically banned in the constitution, and the Government was sued over it, and then the Supreme court sat on it until Trump was no longer president and then the supreme ruled it moot. Republicans will not play by the rules.

[–] cogman@lemmy.world 69 points 1 year ago (2 children)

The issue we have is that the checks for a bad actor are impeachment and elections. The founders thought "surely, elected officials would put country over party". They were wrong there, so now impeachment is ineffective.

The founders thought "surely, voters wouldn't elect an immortal leader". Again, dead wrong.

Voting is really the only effective check at this point, which is why Republicans try to undermine it at every turn. Vote in every election!

[–] teft@startrek.website 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I hope you mean immoral which while being really bad would not be as bad as an immortal ruler.

[–] HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 1 year ago

I strongly disagree.

Most presidents have lived, at most, a few decades after the conclusion of their regime. I believe Carter is now the champion in that category, at 43 years. This is the upper bounds on their consequences. As far as we know about life after death, anything that jumps the track after that is no longer a problem for them. This creates a tunnel vision-- it's very hard for mortal leaders to consider "this has a payback or cost structure over 50, 100, 500 years."

On the other hand, an immortal is stuck here. He'll be the one with searing lung pain for millennia until the ecosystem heals from a fossil-fuel binge, he'll be watching any century-scale projects he invested in crumble as society destabilizes around him. This would impact his goals and decision making process-- his self interest would favour stewardship and long-term stability.

TBH, I really want to see some sort of take on "Vampire runs for President on a pro-ecology platform." It's no zanier than anything else in this season's Crunchyroll catalogue.

[–] ScrollinMyDayAway@lemm.ee 15 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If only we could vote out a Supreme Court member. But ironically those that sit on the highest court in the country are held accountable by nobody, and serve for life.

[–] SheeEttin@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

They are held accountable by Congress. But that assumes that Congress isn't complicit.

[–] killernova@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

Sounds like a couple branches fell off the tree.

[–] PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee -2 points 1 year ago

China is held accountable by the people, who are asleep at the wheel while overdosing on meth.

[–] aidan@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

That was intentional in the design of the supreme court. It was made to be the least democratic branch of government because it was made to hold the current majority to the standards of the past. Which is what a constitution is.

[–] capt_wolf@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

Or if you own a billion dollar corporation. Then it's encouraged and just good business!

[–] sebinspace@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

Just stop being poor, easy clap

[–] eestileib@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago
[–] Rivalarrival@lemmy.today 4 points 1 year ago

You are free to sue to keep his name off the ballot. I don't think a court would side with you until he has been duly convicted, but we can hope.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works -1 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Wrong. Wealthy people get the same treatment usually.

[–] FReddit@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yes. An exception would seem to be Bernie Madoff. But it wasn't the amount of money.

He had to be punished because he ripped off other rich people.

[–] Backgammon@startrek.website 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think he means that wealthy people get the same treatment as those in politics.

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What? No. Or at least, "not quite" depending on how you meant that.

Wealthy people are given the same passes as politicians. Both are treated better than the rest of us. The criminal justice system exists almost exclusively to punish the second category.

[–] Backgammon@startrek.website 1 points 1 year ago

Just saw this reply, but yea that's exactly what I was interpreting you as saying.

[–] Pratai@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It wasn’t an either/or situation. So what exactly am I wrong about?

[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You literally ended your comment with "only if you're in politics."

Relax, though. We're all on the same side here. I upvoted your original post. I just wanted it to be clear that wealthy people are also immune. They are also often rewarded for their misdeeds after they hire a PR team to spin things.

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Lucidlethargy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 year ago

If you're wealthy, you don't need to be a politician to be above the law.