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Comment by john_strinlai

5 days ago

>It's not like Russia currently respects the Rule of Law.

but... we do?

the argument is apparently that we also should ignore the rule of law. i dont think that would be a great idea for society, but i am just some dude.

The argument is that we should only obey the rule of law with counterparties who reciprocate, rather than voluntarily hamstring ourselves for no benefit other than moral purity.

  • right, damn pesky morals are always hamstringing human progress.

    my thinking is that once you start selectively applying rule of law to "good guys" and "bad guys" (or whatever criteria you pick), you have lost something really important. fingers crossed no one ever alters the criteria such that you fall on the "wrong" side!

    • >my thinking is that once you start selectively applying rule of law to "good guys" and "bad guys" (or whatever criteria you pick),

      This is how the world already works. We do not inhabit an egalitarian utopia. There quite literally are bad guys.

      When you treat everyone like good guys, you end up with Donald Trump as the president instead of in jail.

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