• Saleh@feddit.org
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    3 hours ago

    So the executive can pardon crimes in advance in case the next executive might decide to criminally persecute people, even though they probably never did anything criminal to begin with? But despite the fact, that the next executive can just arbitrarily convict people criminally, they would respect that preemptive pardon?

    America, this is not how division of power and state of law works. Heck the Sovjet Union under Stalin probably made more effort to appear as a state of law.

    • DomeGuy@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      No, the executive CANNOT arbitrarily convict anyone. In fact, the whole grand/petite jury system exists specifically because we assume that the administration might be a petty tyrannical jerk.

      The key feature of American federalism isn’t the polite myth that is “rule of law”. No country is,since the laws are all dependent on people to carry them out. Instead,it’s “separation of power”.

      Trump is going to do terrible and shameful things, as Biden did terrible and shameful things, but the ultimate check on his would-be tyranny will be the greed and pride of the Republicans in Congress and on the court.

        • Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works
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          2 hours ago

          It’s the inevitable outcome of identity politics. “You are asking me to change who I am” can only, will only and has always ended in violence and hatred. Bad faith actors inflame the situation and cry persecution because politics = belief once you’ve let the holy spirit get in bed with politicians. Just more bad actors.

          If actions cannot have consequences then it’s chaos and you need to burn it all down.

    • harsh3466@lemmy.ml
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      3 hours ago

      We are very aware of this. Unless and until the worker/pleb class can get its shit together and stop fighting a stupid culture war to focus on the class war, this is just gonna get worse.

    • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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      1 hour ago

      Yes, the president can pardon people who haven’t yet been charged with a crime.

      This isn’t new, for example Carter pardoned all draft dodgers regardless of whether they had yet been charged.

    • Electricblush@lemmy.world
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      3 hours ago

      America. Trying to emulate every aspect of the game Monopoly.

      I guess other chance cards are next since the “get of jail free” card is implemented…