[RD] Impeach Clinton

[Sommerswerd]

There will always be situations where people exercise power over one another. What we can do is prevent that from crystallizing into hierarchy by limiting the circumstances under which power can be exercised, and by making power as accountable as possible. Constitutionally limited government and collective bargaining re two ways we (imperfectly) accomplish these things in real life.

OK I see... so my thinking is the opposite. My feeling on this is that we should increase the access and opportunities for people to gain power, on the premise that when more diverse and numerous folks have access to power, it becomes difficult for any one person or any one particular kind of person to abuse everyone else with the power that they have and others don't.

 

[Lexicus]

OK I see... so my thinking is the opposite. My feeling on this is that we should increase the access and opportunities for people to gain power, on the premise that when more diverse and numerous folks have access to power, it becomes difficult for any one person or any one particular kind of person to abuse everyone else with the power that they have and others don't.

Well, I don't see how this is the opposite of what I said. More people having power means more power equality, which I'm certainly in favor of. We may give your boss power over you in a specific context but you need to have the power to check him if he abuses his power.

 

[Kyriakos]

OK I see... so my thinking is the opposite. My feeling on this is that we should increase the access and opportunities for people to gain power, on the premise that when more diverse and numerous folks have access to power, it becomes difficult for any one person or any one particular kind of person to abuse everyone else with the power that they have and others don't.

Says the one who voted for a dynasty

 

[BvBPL]

No, altering the law won't affect those who have demonstrated their ability to act outside the law. Are you listening? If you can refute this please do so.

Making the actions of harassers public and then ensuring there are consequences for those actions will have a preventative effect. Even if it does not dissuade people from harassing others, the consequences ensure that those harassers are removed from office so they cannot continue to hide behind their shields of office.

Maybe I should say “should” as it is becoming clear that being a child molester is insufficient to dissuade people from supporting you for the senate.

In any case, more transparency on the matter can only be good.

 

[ori]

Oh what utter balls you do speak.

[RD]

Moderator Action: the above are examples of how how not to post in an RD thread - and now back to the regularly scheduled discussion...

 

[inthesomeday]

Making the actions of harassers public and then ensuring there are consequences for those actions will have a preventative effect.

It hasn't before. Back when Bill's accusers went public folks were saying the same stuff but the politicians kept on doing it. It's a part of the culture of politics, sexual assault is an occupational perk. As these accusations continue (thank god, I hope the "witch hunt" never ends) this becomes clearer and clearer.

Even if it does not dissuade people from harassing others, the consequences ensure that those harassers are removed from office so they cannot continue to hide behind their shields of office.

Yeah, and it's great to continually cycle them out. We can't expect it to actually stop, though. It's a part of the system, and removing individuals who get caught, while obviously necessary, does not and will not stop the systemic power abuse. Sexual assault by people in power can only be ended by ending the relationships that give them power to begin with.

Maybe I should say “should” as it is becoming clear that being a child molester is insufficient to dissuade people from supporting you for the senate.

Surely this exact situation is showing you that change doesn't and cannot come from within the system.

In any case, more transparency on the matter can only be good.

I agree with this, but to claim it has any minute amount of real affect on the sexual abuses so central to the way political (and all) power functions is wrong and possibly counterintuitive to discussions of real change.

 

[BvBPL]

HLN will run a two-hour retrospective on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair as part of the network's true crime programming.

 

[caketastydelish]

four year bump but I have something I want to add about the case that I haven't heard anyone else say:

I think Clinton did far more with her than just oral sex. He lied that that was all there was to it, because of a legal loophole that only admitting to that means he didn't lie under oath, which he did in reality. They already knew at that point that a sexual encounter happened between them, so he confessed to the bare minimum to not get in further trouble. Only confessing having received oral sex protects him from legal repercussions, which is why that was his only confession. I would be highly surprised if they didn't pretty much do everything.

 

[Ferocitus]

four year bump but I have something I want to add about the case that I haven't heard anyone else say:

I think Clinton did far more with her than just oral sex. He lied that that was all there was to it, because of a legal loophole that only admitting to that means he didn't lie under oath, which he did in reality. They already knew at that point that a sexual encounter happened between them, so he confessed to the bare minimum to not get in further trouble. Only confessing having received oral sex protects him from legal repercussions, which is why that was his only confession. I would be highly surprised if they didn't pretty much do everything.

Of course he fought it using every legal avenue available in the USA.

You didn't expect him to take it lying down did you?

 

[caketastydelish]

I only bring it up because a lot of people seem take what he said at face value as the truth.

 

[Ferocitus]

I only bring it up because a lot of people seem take what he said at face value as the truth.

Seriously? Even after they've read his "That depends on what the definition of is is" remark?
(or whatever the exact wording was.)

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Moderator Action: A four year necro for a president who hasn't been in power for many many years is kind of pointless, IMHO. Thread closed.