Several people recently have used the phrase "broken system."
I'm curious about the thinking behind this term. It seems to me as flawed as MAGA.
Broken implies that it was once functional and working, now then it broke.
Two questions . . .
I'm curious about the thinking behind this term. It seems to me as flawed as MAGA.
Broken implies that it was once functional and working, now then it broke.
Two questions . . .
https://twitter.com/eswillwalker/status/1365498039968796673
(1) Was it ever not broken?
(2) If so, when did it break?
(2) If so, when did it break?
In 1870, women couldn't vote.
In many states, they couldn't own property.
It was perfectly legal to have all-white juries, and they often were all white.
There were no worker protections or consumer protections.
In many states, they couldn't own property.
It was perfectly legal to have all-white juries, and they often were all white.
There were no worker protections or consumer protections.
https://twitter.com/APhobett/status/1365500878564642816
How about some nuance.
🔹The system gradually improved over the past 240 years.
🔹There is still much to be improved.
🔹There are good judges and bad judges.
🔹Juries generally try to do what's right.
🔹We have democratic processes in place for changing laws.
Nihilism . . .
🔹The system gradually improved over the past 240 years.
🔹There is still much to be improved.
🔹There are good judges and bad judges.
🔹Juries generally try to do what's right.
🔹We have democratic processes in place for changing laws.
Nihilism . . .
. . .is destructive.
Change is brought about by people with ideals.
Cynics and nihilists do not bring positive change.
They discourage people and hamper change.
My view: Don't be a nihilist or cynic. It's ugly and destructive.
Change is brought about by people with ideals.
Cynics and nihilists do not bring positive change.
They discourage people and hamper change.
My view: Don't be a nihilist or cynic. It's ugly and destructive.
People are still assuring me that a single bad apple, a single bad jury, a single injustice means the entire system "sucks" and is "broken."
One bad judge and the whole system sucks.
They're telling me it has always been broken. It was born flawed.
Y'all see the problem?
One bad judge and the whole system sucks.
They're telling me it has always been broken. It was born flawed.
Y'all see the problem?
One person told me she was on a jury once, she didn't like the outcome, therefore it all sucks and she'll never serve again.
Democratic institutions are run by human beings. We can never have perfection.
All we can do is strive to improve them.
Democratic institutions are run by human beings. We can never have perfection.
All we can do is strive to improve them.
Perfection is an ideal that we can never reach.
All we can do, as individuals, is try to leave the world a little better than we found it. Each generation must try to make improvements.
Purity tests don't work in a democracy, which requires give and take.
All we can do, as individuals, is try to leave the world a little better than we found it. Each generation must try to make improvements.
Purity tests don't work in a democracy, which requires give and take.
"The outcome wasn't what I wanted, therefore it all sucks, therefore, I'm just going to complain and spread doomsday nihilism" also destroys democracy.
My son is in an AP Government class.
The textbook opens by saying democracy requires citizen involvement.
My son is in an AP Government class.
The textbook opens by saying democracy requires citizen involvement.
Corrupt has two meanings. (1) to use power dishonestly for personal gain and (2) impurity.
Remember when Trump promised to 'drain the swamp' and said the entire government was corrupt?
He meant definition (2). The government contained impure elements.
Remember when Trump promised to 'drain the swamp' and said the entire government was corrupt?
He meant definition (2). The government contained impure elements.
Purity tests in a democracy don't work. Democracy requires compromise and give and take. It's hard work.
Putin said democracy is "messy."
People who want or demand purity and perfection will never be happy in a democracy.
People have different responses to imperfection.
Putin said democracy is "messy."
People who want or demand purity and perfection will never be happy in a democracy.
People have different responses to imperfection.
Many lawyers who become public defenders do so because they see injustice and want to make the system better by making sure that indigents have good representation.
They see imperfection and say, "What can I do, even its small, to help?"
They see imperfection and say, "What can I do, even its small, to help?"
I said in my first video that liberals see history as an upward slope. youtube.com/channel/UCTPM0…
In my second video, I said reactionaries see history as a downward slope.
Until now I haven't thought about the nihilists. They see a straight line.
In my second video, I said reactionaries see history as a downward slope.
Until now I haven't thought about the nihilists. They see a straight line.
People are imperfect. Systems are imperfect. They've always been imperfect. They will always be imperfect.
The nihilist, therefore, sees no point.
The nihilist doesn't try to bring about improvements because what's the point?
There will always be a bad apple.
The nihilist, therefore, sees no point.
The nihilist doesn't try to bring about improvements because what's the point?
There will always be a bad apple.
When people used to tell me "the criminal justice system sucks," the only thing I could think to say (as someone who dedicated 12+ years to representing indigents on appeal) was, "What have you done to improve the system."
I suspected nothing.
I suspected nothing.
https://twitter.com/BregmanPs/status/1365695583474888713
It's sort of privileged, right?
It's the expectation that other people should have already done the work, mixed with hopelessness because a system run by mortals will never achieve perfection.
It's the expectation that other people should have already done the work, mixed with hopelessness because a system run by mortals will never achieve perfection.
https://twitter.com/BregmanPs/status/1365695583474888713
I lost a train of thought back there about corruption.
When fascists apply purity tests, they mean 'others.' Brown people. Jews. Whoever the "others" are.
Purity tests as applied by nihilist says, "a single bad apple ruins the entire system."
In fact . . .
When fascists apply purity tests, they mean 'others.' Brown people. Jews. Whoever the "others" are.
Purity tests as applied by nihilist says, "a single bad apple ruins the entire system."
In fact . . .
. . . a single bad apple is a problem to solve or to work around.
Right now the danger to democracy is happening at the state level in state legislatures as Republicans are trying to jam through bad voter laws.
Everyone should be involved in their local politics right now.
Right now the danger to democracy is happening at the state level in state legislatures as Republicans are trying to jam through bad voter laws.
Everyone should be involved in their local politics right now.
Maybe I should make this into a video. How about this title:
"Lots of people hate democracy. Are you one of them?"
(Subtitle: How Teri can publish a video and make people hate HER)
"Lots of people hate democracy. Are you one of them?"
(Subtitle: How Teri can publish a video and make people hate HER)
One more thought: as long as I'm ranting.
The system:
🔹An independent judiciary
🔹Independent prosecutors
🔹A jury of your peers
🔹The right to counsel
🔹Lots of bad apples
You'd miss the "system" if it were to disappear because there is only one alternative, and it's worse.
The system:
🔹An independent judiciary
🔹Independent prosecutors
🔹A jury of your peers
🔹The right to counsel
🔹Lots of bad apples
You'd miss the "system" if it were to disappear because there is only one alternative, and it's worse.
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