TheAgitator.com
Aw, Shucks (kicks pebble)
Monday, March 17th, 2008Megan McArdle writes nice words about me.
Thanks. It means a lot that people notice and appreciate the work I’m doing.
And I agree with her. There are some bad actors in the criminal justice system. But I don’t doubt that most police officers, prosecutors, and judges are doing what they think is right. I should probably write that more often.
The problem is bad policy and bad incentives. The conservatives are right about one thing: Ideas have consequences. Thirty years of both parties running on cheap “tough on crime” sloganeering have certainly had some pretty awful consequences.
+1
Maybe part of the problem is that they think they are doing the right thing?
God forbid we follow the words of Jefferson to “judge policy by the outcome, not by the intention.” I could be wrong about the quote, but I couldn’t Google in time and the idea is the same.
Second, I think you are doing an awesome job. I continue to read your blog because your views, opinions, and political stances seem to stand so closely to mine that its hard to find other single blogger that hits it so square on the head. Also, I believe you are doing the job of what a good blogger should do… to use the internet to practice great reporting and journalism one might not be able to do in a standard press environment.
Radley,
I’ve been a reader pretty much since you started the blog. It was my favorite for a long time. At some point the mood changed (I want to say 2006 and early 2007?) and felt a little depressed (gloomy, sad? I don’t know) and while I was still a regular, I didn’t pay as close attention. The last several months the blog seems to have more character and humor again while still angering me on a regular basis (police and prosecutorial abuses of power, civil liberties issues, the nanny state, etc).
I’m glad you’re back to what feels like normal.
“But I don’t doubt that most police officers, prosecutors, and judges are doing what they think is right.”
Dare I mention a historical figure (or seven) who also did what he thought was right?
Ain’t the internet great! In one hundred years, when we look back, what will we say made the internet great? Is it stock quotes, baseball stats or porn? No. The internet is great because it provides a platform for honest men. Balko is an honest man.
There is this Roger Waters lyric(whom Im sure isn’t the first to use it, but I like his song better), “each small candle, lights a corner of the dark.”
Radely is a spotlight that makes this world a better place.
…. even if he does watch American Idol…. just kidding.
“But I don’t doubt that most police officers, prosecutors, and judges are doing what they think is right.”
There was a trial held in Nuremburg about 60 years ago for another group of people that believed they were doing the right thing too.
Nazis invoked. Thread over.
Uhhmmmm no. This would be true if they did the right thing, like stand up when somebody (a cop, fellow prosecutor, judge, etc.) does something wrong. All too often though they close ranks, clam up, and/or point to immunity laws and go along their merry old way. See your previous post about the prosecutor who witheld excuplatory evidence and has had a stellar career.