Maverick Philosopher

Footnotes to Plato from the foothills of the Superstition Mountains

Two-Tiered System of Justice?

I know what conservatives such as Sean Hannity mean when they employ the above expression, but the expression is inept. There cannot be two tiers of justice, one for the rulers and the other for the ruled, or one for Democrats and the other for Republicans,  for the simple reason that justice in Anglo-American law is equal justice, one justice for all.  A guiding principle of our  republic, as the Pledge of Allegiance attests, is "liberty and justice for all." We are all (to be considered to be) equal before the law. Whether you are Joe Biden or Joe Blow, you are subject to the same laws. And the same goes for Joe Biden and Donald Trump.  It is a guiding ideal essential to our system of government. That it is being egregiously violated in the case of Trump does not make it any less of an ideal. 

Joe Sixpack will say, "This is all just semantics." That is the sort of response one expects from a barfly at Joe's Bar and Grill.  Someone who says that has not grasped the truth I have been hammering on for the last twenty years: Language Matters!

Julian Epstein, Democrat, on Crooked Joe. (HT: Tony Flood) There is hope for some Dems. 

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Bill Vallicella

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2 responses to “Two-Tiered System of Justice?”

  1. Joel Farmer Avatar
    Joel Farmer

    Two-tiered system of justice? Inept phrasing? Yeah, probably so, but what should we call it? There still is some “bi-furc” going on…Is it too old-fashioned to just say ‘double standard,’ or is there a better descriptor?
    “Liberty and justice for SOME!” is NOT just semantics! That stirs the Fires of Freedom down in a free man’s belly. Why, I know a guy who is, as we speak, checking to see that his powder is dry.
    I so appreciated your “What’s wrong with illegal immigration” piece–should have said so over there. I’ve thought it, but never seen it put in writing like you did. Gracias, Mr. Bill, for the good work.

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  2. BV Avatar
    BV

    Thanks for the comment, Joel.
    ‘Double standard’ fits.
    I’m glad you appreciated my assortment of arguments against illegal immigration. Trouble is, it is too late for rational debate. No matter how carefully and calmly we argue against the destructive policies of the Biden Bunch, our political enemies will stop their ears and continue screaming: racist, xenophobe, nativist, white supremacist!
    RINOs like Christie and Romney are living in the past. I heard Christie one morning on C-SPAN gassing off about civil discussion and “let the better arguments prevail.” Too late for that, pal. Rational debate presupposes common ground, and of that there is now NONE.
    It’s a war. Time to face reality and get ready.

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