Only as I get older do I realize how incredibly bad elements of law enforcement in the US can be, and legally so. Few cops and agents are bad, but it is a system with little filtering, personally or institutionally, of the bad elements. Civil asset forfeiture is overwhelmingly unpopular, but when states try to reform it the law enforcement groups rally around it mightily. Essentially they want the right to steal mone…
A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
91–100 of 286 posts
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#92It can only be held to the highest standards by the active, ongoing participation of the citizens. There is no nation on this beautiful planet that is held to the highest standards because there is no agreement what the highest standards are.
As citizens, we are only interested in our specific interests and cares and whoopee-do for anyone else. As citizens, we don't care what happens elsewhere. That is someone else's problem.
It doesn't matter what kid of politics you adhere to, what philosophies or religions, most (the vast, vast majority) are only interested in what they get out of things. If the consequences of some policy, legislation, etc. will come and bite them, they don't care as long as it hasn't happened right now.
So with the lowest standards, we have corrupt or useless politicians, law enforcement, national security, commercial enterprises, government enterprises, medical treatment, education, etc. The problems continue to grow and the citizens continue to fight over the decreasing scraps left over for them. Every system on this planet is failing rapidly and will continue to go downhill.
Until people are willing to take responsibility for their choices and accept responsibility for their choices, they will be unable to do anything that is effective in making changes for the better. If you are not willing to hold yourself to a higher standard, then you cannot expect those who have responsibilities in government, business, social areas to have a higher standard.
If you are part of any organisation that has "bad apples" and you do nothing, then you are one of those "bad apples". There are no excuses, no extenuating circumstances, as long as any "bad apples" are not dealt with, the entirety of the organisation is corrupt.
So on that note, it should not be at all surprising when corrupt activities are undertaken by any government organisation and law enforcement such as the legal theft of any goods and chattels of any citizen or non-citizen. The citizens have been complicit and now the citizens have to live with that corruption and the consequences for themselves.
If we aren't doing something active to improve things then we are in full agreement with what does happen to others and then to ourselves.
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#93Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not last. Not first. Not all powerful. Not feckless. Americans act like their government is representative of governments. It isn't. They act like everything needs to be invented there. It doesn't. They believe that America is the greatest country in the world. It isn't. If people in America just stopped to look around at how other countries do things they'd be doubly as well run. Most parts of Europe, Japan, Canada,…
A thousand times this. I'm not saying the UK is some shining beacon of how to run a country but I do think overall our governmental systems are pretty sensible . I think being sensible might be a stereotypical English trait, but it's true. For example you have to comply with the spirit of a law, not the exact text. Also our QC's are pretty level headed and the same goes for our police force. Nobody is overly nitpicky…
Your press isn't even aloud to speak about him.
The UK is dystopian
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#94Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not last. Not first. Not all powerful. Not feckless. Americans act like their government is representative of governments. It isn't. They act like everything needs to be invented there. It doesn't. They believe that America is the greatest country in the world. It isn't. If people in America just stopped to look around at how other countries do things they'd be doubly as well run. Most parts of Europe, Japan, Canada,…
A thousand times this. I'm not saying the UK is some shining beacon of how to run a country but I do think overall our governmental systems are pretty sensible . I think being sensible might be a stereotypical English trait, but it's true. For example you have to comply with the spirit of a law, not the exact text. Also our QC's are pretty level headed and the same goes for our police force. Nobody is overly nitpicky…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/05/29...
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#95It amazes me when people think the government should be the go-to solution to society's problems. The government can indeed be used for good, and it has solved many problems, and regulations can be a good thing. But government should be applied very carefully, and probably as the last solution, after we see the failures of non-government solutions. The government is all powerful. They can destroy any business, destro…
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#96Earlier quoted context omitted.
A thousand times this. I'm not saying the UK is some shining beacon of how to run a country but I do think overall our governmental systems are pretty sensible . I think being sensible might be a stereotypical English trait, but it's true. For example you have to comply with the spirit of a law, not the exact text. Also our QC's are pretty level headed and the same goes for our police force. Nobody is overly nitpicky…
Tommy Robinson Your press isn't even aloud to speak about him. The UK is dystopian
I would check where you are getting your facts from.
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
Albania is mostly an atheist country, and only 43% of people identify as religious, (and it includes muslim, catholic and orthodox). It is part of NATO and it is in the process of getting into EU, and it is a staunch ally of USA, and probably the most EU/USA loving country in the region. (there are plenty of sentiment polls that have measured this). I sympathize with the Kazasis. Albania went through a major shock af…
Mostly atheist? You clearly haven't been to Albania...
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
I can't wrap my head around how you can see it as positive that these kind of actions would go unpunished, in the name of "freedom". If I were harassed and bullied I'd not feel very free, but rather anxious, threatened, depressed. I'm quite happy my government takes measures to assure a certain level of personal safety, both physical and psychological.
I would prefer being harrased and bullied rather than having to live in a country that has a legal power to punish me for what I say.
The only difference is they've chosen to draw the line somewhere just offset from what you're used to. There's still a line in these here United States. And it's really not that different, is it?
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
Tommy Robinson Your press isn't even aloud to speak about him. The UK is dystopian
You mean the vile idiot who potentially ruined an ongoing trial by broadcasting sensitive details all over facebook directly outside the court , which was widely and thoroughly reported by the UK press? I would check where you are getting your facts from.
Re: A 64-year-old put his life savings in his carry-on, and U.S. Customs took it
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would prefer being harrased and bullied rather than having to live in a country that has a legal power to punish me for what I say.
> to punish me for what I say. But doesn't, unless you say something reprehensible that the society you live in agrees that you stepped way over the line.