Is There Democracy Without Justice?

No.

I could just end there, but let’s go a bit deeper. Let’s go to the world’s favorite cesspool for some commentary…

Cringe.

There have been calls from some that removing #45 would not unite America. This isn’t just from those who peddle falsehoods. This was also the topic of discussion on the All-In Podcast from David Sacks. The issue has been framed as if there is a choice between impeaching Trump versus leaving him be to unite the nation.

They say, what about the 74 million people who voted for him?

I saw, what about the 81 million who didn’t? Or the 3 million MORE who didn’t vote for him the first time?

My position is that you can’t claim law and order and then when one of your own breaks the law, you do nothing about it.

One of the premises of America is that there are no kings or queens. No one is above the law. Far too long we’ve let certain types of individuals get away with skirting the law because we allow it, somehow in the name of the greater good.

But here is where all of these arguments break down for me.

Some on the All-In podcast episode were waffling between the two options but one member, David Sacks, recently wrote an article on the dangers of not locking people up.

I’m serious.

His piece is called The Killer D.A.

He outlines how San Fransisco’s current District Attorney has blood on his hands for the hyper decarceration program he is implementing in SF. The guy refuses to send people to jail for crimes like shoplifting, car break-ins, and vandalism and chooses instead to reimburse victims. In Sacks’ words -

It’s bizarre and alarming to hear a district attorney argue that jail is not a deterrent and actually a threat to public safety. It’s like hearing a fire chief declare he doesn’t believe in water.

He later goes on to point out that -

Tiptoeing around dirty needles and human feces, keeping their cars off the street for fear of break-ins or just mindless vandalism, being confronted in their homes by naked, masturbating meth addicts, getting mowed down on city streets by a drunk in a stolen car, and seeing all this and more go unpunished makes people want to leave and put down roots elsewhere. Or worse, they trap those who do remain in a vicious cycle of learned cynicism and resignation. In the world created by D.A. Boudin’s policies, prosecutors learn not to charge, police learn not to arrest, citizens learn not to report, and all learn to live in fear.

What I’m trying to understand is how is this situation differs so greatly from the one we saw at the nation’s capital over the last four years?

Why is such consideration for #45 even being considered?

What I can say for sure is that this is why many minorities in America lean toward cynicism, resignation, and are living in fear. Someone can be blatantly wrong but somehow not holding them accountable makes it better for everyone else??

Right now, it shouldn’t be so hard to do the easy things. We also shouldn’t keep acting like public officials deserve a medal for making statements but taking no action.

The lack of justice and most importantly accountability will encourage others to do the same thing over and over again. It eats at the fabric of a democratic society.

Too often, America has told minorities and sensible people to be the bigger person because it’s better for the nation. I say, do your jobs. We’ve carried the torch of democracy for far too long and if we drop it now, I’m afraid the whole thing is going to burn down.

Note: Listen to the podcast before you judge David Sacks. The conversation is much more nuanced but I do want to point out that this nuance often feels like a slap in the face to so many others.