Category: Politics

ACLU Decides It Doesn’t Like Some Civil Liberties

Growing up, the American Civil Liberties Union was one of those principled organizations that I often disagreed with, sometimes celebrated, but never doubted their commitment to their core principles.

Then Charlottesville. And the ACLU decides it won’t defend free speech if guns are involved.

Now, the ACLU is coming out against stronger due process in college inquisitions for sexual misconduct. When you’ve lost The Atlantic

My big gripe with the NRA in recent years (and GOA for a while) is being more interested in being a conservative organization instead of a civil rights organization. Now, I watch as the ACLU does the same thing on the other side of the aisle.

Friday Quote – Roman van Ree

Don’t be fooled by the words “socialism” and “communism”. Once you come to understand what they mean in terms of economic freedom you will know that they are anything but social, and have nothing to do with community. They simply mean “centralization of power in the hands of the people that make up the state, in the hands of the master class.

They are nothing but euphemisms for “slavery”.

Mid-Term Reaction

On the national front, the Democrats get the House and the Republicans keep the Senate. I mostly agree with Rob’s assessment that the House Republican’s failure to do what it promised kept the base unmotivated to help save it from an aggressive Democrat push.

On the Florida side, Miguel’s correct that we dodged a bullet by DeSantis’s hairbreadth win. More importantly Fried’s defeat for Agriculture. It looks like Scott and Nelson are headed for a recount, which wouldn’t have happened if Scott hadn’t caved after Parkland. Don’t fucking do favors for people who won’t vote for you anyways. I swear that politicos should have that tattooed on their palms.

As for the amendments? It was kind of a mixed bag from my perspective. Probably the most controversial was granting the right to vote to felons, which I voted for because if you’ve served your time and released, then you should have all the rights and responsibilities of a citizen restored. Speaking of the citizenry, they decided we needed to ban offshore drilling, vaping in offices, and greyhound racing. Because when special interests can buy the right legislators, they buy themselves an amendment. And all of these crossed the two-thirds needed for an amendment to pass – which was supposed to stop this bullshit in the first place.

And starts the long slog to 2020.

Voting For or Voting Against

J.D. Tucille has an insightful piece over st Reason on reducing political violence. One of the big takeaways is that recently people belong to a party not because of what the party stands for but who the party stands against.

Money quote:

If the government can reach into virtually every area of life, can grant or deny permission to make a living or enjoy pastimes, and has a documented history of abusing such authority for petty and vindictive reasons, why wouldn’t you be afraid of your enemies wielding such power? How could you avoid growing fearful and angry over their anticipated conduct once they took their inevitable turn in office? And what would you say – and eventually do – to stop them? Especially, if you were a little unhinged to begin with.

I know for this midterm elections, there were several races where I was not voting for a candidate, but against their opponent.

Friday Quote- Jonathan Haidt

There are people who are less emotional and more reasoned. They’re called libertarians.

Not sure if I have the quote exactly right. I heard this on a recent Science Salon podcast. Damn near had an accident due to sudden burst of laughter.

This Is Why I Hate Qualified Immunity

The Innocence Project, known for helping free people who were unjustly convicted is helping a former prosecutor fight to get his job back.

Why was he fired? For not breaking the law.

Eric Hillman was an Assistant District Attorney in Nueces County who unfairly lost his job in January 2014 after he found an independent witness who was not included in police reports from an intoxication assault prosecution. Hillman, who also served as a Harris County (Houston) police officer for 21 years, was ordered by a DA’s Office supervisor to keep the information about the witness to himself, saying it did not have to be turned over to defense lawyers because it came from an independent investigation.

After he was fired for refusing to “follow orders,” Hillman sued to get his job back, arguing that Texas law should protect prosecutors who refuse to break the law and hide evidence that aids the defense. Earlier this year, the Innocence Project and the Innocence Project of Texas urged the Texas Supreme Court to take up Hillman’s case, arguing in a friend of the court brief that these employment protections are critical to ensuring that innocent persons are not wrongly convicted.

He was fired for doing what prosecutors should be doing. What if he had followed orders and the defendant was erroneously convicted? Could Mr. Hillman be sued for violating the defendant’s rights? Nope. He would have qualified immunity.

It’s time to remove that crap. Let prosecutors have to carry malpractice insurance. That will make them more diligent in their duty instead diligent in improving their conviction rate.

Voting

Did my civic duty. There are some elections where I’m excited to fill out my ballot. This time, it was draining. A lot of voting against candidates than voting for candidates. And quite a few blank votes, because I’m damn sure not voting for either one.

Friday Quote – Jared Howe

Anything which requires the labor or property of other people is not a basic human right. That includes education, healthcare, food, internet access, housing, or anything else that involves an investment of capital and labor. To demand free goods and services from people who sacrifice time and capital to produce them is to demand that those people become your slaves. You don’t have the right to enslave people for food or education or healthcare anymore than plantation owners had a right to enslave people to pick cotton.