Just where do we live?

[FirstAscent]

Dude, I just hope the death penalty still exists in the state where that happened and all those cops die on the electric chair.

To serve and protect, my ass...

Ramos has been charged with second-degree murder. Death penalty's not going to happen. However, the FBI has opened an independent investigation on the whole matter, which will undoubtedly include probes into the corruption of the Fullerton police department, and the issue with the fired bar bouncer who says the bar owner called the police and made a false claim about Thomas because he didn't want him around outside.

[FirstAscent]

Also, I ignored firstaccents question because I have no idea what the hell he was asking talking about.

Probably because you didn't read the several posts I made about Kelly Thomas prior to the question (with link provided). Given that, the statement "I think you're missing the bigger story" should have been contextually obvious.

[pekv2]

Also, I ignored firstaccents question because I have no idea what the hell he was asking talking about.

Probably because you didn't read the several posts I made about Kelly Thomas prior to the question (with link provided). Given that, the statement "I think you're missing the bigger story" should have been contextually obvious.

Just explain, stop going in circles with the shit.

[FirstAscent]

Also, I ignored firstaccents question because I have no idea what the hell he was asking talking about.

Probably because you didn't read the several posts I made about Kelly Thomas prior to the question (with link provided). Given that, the statement "I think you're missing the bigger story" should have been contextually obvious.

Just explain, stop going in circles with the shit.

I seriously do not have any idea what you want explained to you.

[pekv2]

lol. It's alright.

[FreeMoney]

*Truly surprised by the ratio of PoliceHaters/ThoseWhoKnowTheKellyThomasStory on this forum*

Police haters? I'm pretty sure the people you are talking about would feel the same way about anyone who did that sort of thing, it just happens that most of the time that is people wearing police costumes.

[FirstAscent]

*Truly surprised by the ratio of PoliceHaters/ThoseWhoKnowTheKellyThomasStory on this forum*

Police haters? I'm pretty sure the people you are talking about would feel the same way about anyone who did that sort of thing, it just happens that most of the time that is people wearing police costumes.

The people I am talking about are the people on this forum who despise the police (understandable) and instead propose the privatization of police.

The observation in question is the fact that the Kelly Thomas case is perhaps the ultimate reason to despise the police and perhaps one of the best examples to demonstrate the abuse of power and corruption within police forces.

Therefore, given the nature of the Kelly Thomas case, and the demographics of this forum, I found it surprising that so few were aware of the case. I did a search to verify this. I then proceeded to make some posts to see how much attention mention of Kelly Thomas would generate. The results I got speak for themselves.

The more people who are aware of the Kelly Thomas case, the better. While I do not advocate the privatization of police, I do think the two specific examples of police behavior presented in this thread are prime examples of what is wrong with police forces in their current form. Much work and reform is necessary.

[pekv2]

FirstAscent, are you an Officer of the Law? There is something about you that I don't like, I cannot pin point it nor know why. Just like David_Benz, same feeling.

Have you forgot about Rodney King? Or the truck filled with Mexicans that a few got the stick quite badly? And probably many more that we don;t know of or about. As you stated.

Kelly Thomas case is perhaps the ultimate reason to despise the police

[FirstAscent]

FirstAscent, are you an Officer of the Law? There is something about you that I don't like, I cannot pin point it nor know why. Just like David_Benz, same feeling.

I've never even heard of you, nor do your thoughts and opinions interest me.

[pekv2]

FirstAscent, are you an Officer of the Law? There is something about you that I don't like, I cannot pin point it nor know why. Just like David_Benz, same feeling.

I've never even heard of you, nor do your thoughts and opinions interest me.

That's what I thought. You are officially on my iggy. First one, congrats.

Un sub'd.

[FirstAscent]

FirstAscent, are you an Officer of the Law? There is something about you that I don't like, I cannot pin point it nor know why. Just like David_Benz, same feeling.

I've never even heard of you, nor do your thoughts and opinions interest me.

That's what I thought. You are officially on my iggy. First one, congrats.

Sounds like a win for me. I won't have to endure pekv2's dimwitted commentary on the information I provided on the Kelly Thomas case, among other things.

[fergalish]

Not allows. Creates.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Prison_Experiment

Maybe it's human nature that creates these kind of circumstances, rather than "the system". You know, power begets power and so on.  Read "Lord of the Flies" for a fictional exploration of this argument (really, this is fundamental reading for anyone interested in politics - it's short and captivating). I agree, however, that the current "system" does accentuate rather than attenuate the probability of abuses and corruption such as this.

[myrkul]

Not allows. Creates.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Prison_Experiment

Maybe it's human nature that creates these kind of circumstances, rather than "the system". You know, power begets power and so on.  Read "Lord of the Flies" for a fictional exploration of this argument (really, this is fundamental reading for anyone interested in politics - it's short and captivating). I agree, however, that the current "system" does accentuate rather than attenuate the probability of abuses and corruption such as this.

I have read it, and it certainly got me thinking. Did you read the linked article? They took randomly selected students, screened them for any psychological issues, and placed them in a prisoner/guard setting. Within days the "guards", without any prompting from the researchers, were horribly mistreating the "prisoners". I shudder to think what might have happened had it continued. If it is, indeed, human nature to exploit these sorts of power relationships, does that not argue for an abolishment of the relationships themselves?

[fergalish]

If it is, indeed, human nature to exploit these sorts of power relationships, does that not argue for an abolishment of the relationships themselves?

Taken to its extreme, you're suggesting abolishing a very central part of the human experience. We might as well just collectively eliminate ourselves altogether.  Actually, better off nuking the whole damn planet since the entire natural world is full of violent encounters.  Put the plants and animals out of their misery while we're at it.

Alternatively, we could come up with some kind of social contract, which would describe a minimum standard of good behavior to which all society's members are obliged to adhere. That way, we minimize the nasty aspects of humanity, while enjoying the pleasant aspects - like music and good wine to name a couple.

And I'd like you to think about wealth and power.  Do you think they are connected?

[myrkul]

If it is, indeed, human nature to exploit these sorts of power relationships, does that not argue for an abolishment of the relationships themselves?

Taken to its extreme, you're suggesting abolishing a very central part of the human experience. We might as well just collectively eliminate ourselves altogether.  Actually, better off nuking the whole damn planet since the entire natural world is full of violent encounters.  Put the plants and animals out of their misery while we're at it.

You're suggesting that oppression is vital to being human? If that is the case, I agree. Better to nuke ourselves now than to subject the universe to our existence any longer.

Alternatively, we could come up with some kind of social contract, which would describe a minimum standard of good behavior to which all society's members are obliged to adhere. That way, we minimize the nasty aspects of humanity, while enjoying the pleasant aspects - like music and good wine to name a couple.

Indeed, such a social contract has been designed, and unlike the social contract I suspect you are referring to, it is entirely voluntary, if you decide not to sign the contract, you are not a member of the society, if you do, you are. You are not forced into the society by an assumed contract. http://shiresociety.com/

And I'd like you to think about wealth and power.  Do you think they are connected?

There are two types of power, which you may have confused. The power to, which wealth gives, and the power over, which is political power. The power to is similar to the scientific definition of power:

ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.

It is power over that I seek to abolish, not power to.

[fergalish]

You're suggesting that oppression is vital to being human? If that is the case, I agree. Better to nuke ourselves now than to subject the universe to our existence any longer.

Nature is violent and oppressive (A) - observe the underdog in a pack of wolves. We are born of nature (B). We have chosen to suppress our violent nature (C). Eliminate the suppression and our violent nature will re-emerge (D).
You might disagree with A, B, C or D, or even with all of them, and that's fine. There is no way to know without experimenting. Libertarians wax lyrical about how wonderful Somalia is, but it recently came last place in the global peace index.

Indeed, such a social contract has been designed, and unlike the social contract I suspect you are referring to, it is entirely voluntary, if you decide not to sign the contract, you are not a member of the society, if you do, you are. You are not forced into the society by an assumed contract. http://shiresociety.com/

The same can be said for any country on earth: if you don't like it, just leave. Saying things like that doesn't help anyone though (either pro or con), so your point about voluntary social contracts can be safely ignored as a pro-NAP argument.

There are two types of power, which you may have confused. The power to, which wealth gives, and the power over, which is political power. The power to is similar to the scientific definition of power:

ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.

It is power over that I seek to abolish, not power to.

I'll use your terminology. Can "power to" lead to "power over"? If it can, does it happen automatically or do people with "power to" deliberately avoid developing a "power over"? I hate to say it, but if you think wealth doesn't eventually and inevitably lead to "power over" then you're ignoring pretty much all of recorded human history.

[fergalish]

I have read it, and it certainly got me thinking. Did you read the linked article? They took randomly selected students, screened them for any psychological issues, and placed them in a prisoner/guard setting. Within days the "guards", without any prompting from the researchers, were horribly mistreating the "prisoners". I shudder to think what might have happened had it continued. If it is, indeed, human nature to exploit these sorts of power relationships, does that not argue for an abolishment of the relationships themselves?

I have read about the Stanford experiments. Wikipedia is really just hearsay, but it does reflect the consensus of its contributors. On the page about the Stanford experiment, it says:

Tom Peters and Robert H. Waterman, Jr. wrote in 1981 that the Milgram experiment and the Stanford prison experiment were frightening in their implications about the danger which lurks in the darker side of human nature.

Suppose it *is* human nature to develop abusive and authorative relationships.  Would you still think libertarianism, allowing each individual to decide what constitutes reasonable behavior, would be an ideal basis for society?

[myrkul]

You're suggesting that oppression is vital to being human? If that is the case, I agree. Better to nuke ourselves now than to subject the universe to our existence any longer.

Nature is violent and oppressive (A) - observe the underdog in a pack of wolves. We are born of nature (B). We have chosen to suppress our violent nature (C). Eliminate the suppression and our violent nature will re-emerge (D).
You might disagree with A, B, C or D, or even with all of them, and that's fine. There is no way to know without experimenting. Libertarians wax lyrical about how wonderful Somalia is, but it recently came last place in the global peace index.

Somalia started out a shithole. It's still a shithole. But it's a better shithole that it was.

Indeed, such a social contract has been designed, and unlike the social contract I suspect you are referring to, it is entirely voluntary, if you decide not to sign the contract, you are not a member of the society, if you do, you are. You are not forced into the society by an assumed contract. http://shiresociety.com/

The same can be said for any country on earth: if you don't like it, just leave. Saying things like that doesn't help anyone though (either pro or con), so your point about voluntary social contracts can be safely ignored as a pro-NAP argument.

You are conflating country and society. A society is not geographical. A society is the people. You can leave the society without leaving the land you live on.

There are two types of power, which you may have confused. The power to, which wealth gives, and the power over, which is political power. The power to is similar to the scientific definition of power:

ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.

It is power over that I seek to abolish, not power to.

I'll use your terminology. Can "power to" lead to "power over"? If it can, does it happen automatically or do people with "power to" deliberately avoid developing a "power over"? I hate to say it, but if you think wealth doesn't eventually and inevitably lead to "power over" then you're ignoring pretty much all of recorded human history.

Wealth does not automatically lead to power over other people. Any power over other people due to your wealth is voluntary, usually because they would like to have some of that wealth.

Suppose it *is* human nature to develop abusive and authorative relationships.  Would you still think libertarianism, allowing each individual to decide what constitutes reasonable behavior, would be an ideal basis for society?

Not only ideal, but the only just way to do it. Imagine if they told the prisoners in that experiment that they were free to leave at any time. How many would have stayed?

[fergalish]

Somalia started out a shithole. It's still a shithole. But it's a better shithole that it was.

It's easy for things to improve when you're in a shithole. Improving things when you're in a highly complex, functional and wealthy society... not so easy.

You are conflating country and society. A society is not geographical. A society is the people. You can leave the society without leaving the land you live on.

So any member of a NAP society can leave that society at any time? Therefore he is no longer bound by its rules or his prior contracts.  You're ignoring the fact that any significant NAP society must have some geographic extent. Otherwise it is meaningless - by what authority would a non-NAPster be subject to arbitration with a NAPster?

Wealth does not automatically lead to power over other people. Any power over other people due to your wealth is voluntary, usually because they would like to have some of that wealth.

Or perhaps the need to have some of that wealth, therefore not voluntary.

Not only ideal, but the only just way to do it. Imagine if they told the prisoners in that experiment that they were free to leave at any time. How many would have stayed?

They were free to leave:

Q: Were prisoners allowed to quit the experiment?
A: Yes, and some prisoners did discontinue their participation. For the most part, however, prisoners seemed to forget or misunderstand that they could leave "through established procedures," and they reinforced a sense of imprisonment by telling each other that there was no way out.

Will there be prisoners in NAPland so? If so, are you suggesting they will be free to leave at any time?

[FirstAscent]

So any member of a NAP society can leave that society at any time? Therefore he is no longer bound by its rules or his prior contracts.  You're ignoring the fact that any significant NAP society must have some geographic extent. Otherwise it is meaningless - by what authority would a non-NAPster be subject to arbitration with a NAPster?

That's been the point all along. NAP has no provision for enforcing NAPism on its population.