Current Events > Joe Biden doesn't think DC should be able to govern itself

(+) Yeah! (+)

Who the fuck posing reduced penalties for carjackings

Consider a crime thats currently spiking in the District: carjacking. Under the current code, the maximum sentence for armed carjacking is 40 years. Thats the same penalty as second-degree murder, and more than double the penalty for second-degree sexual assault. It is wildly disproportionate to the offense by any standard. No onenot even the most violent and incorrigible offendersis sentenced to 40 years for carjacking in D.C. The most conservative, tough-on-crime judge would never dream of handing down anywhere close to a 40-year sentence for a single carjacking. Rather, the harshest penalties handed down today run about 15 years. In recognition that some rare cases may warrant even longer sentences, the RCCA authorizes a 24-year maximum sentence for carjacking. Thats nine years longer than the lengthiest sentences today.

D.C is already sort of its own country if you've studied it's laws. What else do they want?

the revised law doesn't reduce penalties for carjacking

the maximum sentence for armed carjacking is 40 years

the RCCA authorizes a 24-year maximum sentence for carjacking

Better answer:
Reduce DC to just the federal district, and hand the rest over to Maryland.

.......... but it does do that, though?

the harshest penalties handed down today run about 15 years

I would prefer it if DC doesn't turn into California

the harshest penalties handed down today run about 15 years

It reduces the maximum from 40 years to 24 years. Objectively, it reduces the maximum penalty for carjacking.

I think we should concern ourselves with what happens in reality.

Nobody has ever even gotten a 25 year sentence for the crime. You can argue about paper penalties; I think we should concern ourselves with what happens in reality.

In reality, it lowers the maximum penalty for carjacking by 16 years. Why lower it at all?

In reality, it lowers the maximum penalty for carjacking by 16 years. Why lower it at all?

How about because 40 years is ridiculous for carjacking.

I disagree strongly.

Always fun to see liberals go "oh I totally have principles, believe me, I'm the most principled guy you've ever seen. But in this case we should disregard them."

What is the purpose of a law? To look extravagant, or to actually be put into effect in ways that will impact people's lives?

The myth that Biden and mainstream democrats are "liberal" is a strong one it seems

What's the actual benefit to society?

the new code puts crimes and punishments in a more logical order. Stealing a car should not have the same penalty as taking a human life. And thats just one of many baffling examples. For instance, the existing code imposes a higher penalty for threatening to destroy someones property than for actually destroying it. This kind of disproportionality erodes faith in the system, creating a situation where lesser crimes can carry higher penalties.

While it was pretty clear that Trump wasnt the answer in 2020, its mildly amusing to see people slowly realizing that Biden wasnt the answer either.

Do DC or Maryland's residents want that?

I think you're trying to redefine America's most powerful liberals out of liberalism, rather than maybe reconsider what liberalism is.

Obama, Biden, and the Clintons would all call themselves liberal, and I think most of their supporters feel the same way. Are they weird aberrations, or do their actions reflect something about liberalism?

As Biden ascribes to most conservative attributes he is conservative

While it was pretty clear that Trump wasnt the answer in 2020, its mildly amusing to see people slowly realizing that Biden wasnt the answer either.

So who are the real liberals, if not the people who have been claiming that title for decades? Is there a coherent definition of liberalism that would exclude them? Would Wikipedia agree with such a definition?

But that's not a statement that's reasonable lol.

So who are the real liberals, if not the people who have been claiming that title for decades? Is there a coherent definition of liberalism that would exclude them? Would Wikipedia agree with such a definition?

In what way?

Generally speaking DC and Maryland are fine with it.

there's nothing wrong with nixing a potentially stupid idea (that'd blowback on Dems nationally for obvious reasons basically anytime a tap on the wrist carjacking story happened).

The law change would establish a maximum penalty for carjacking nine years longer than any handed out under the current law. If Biden's going to base his policy on what Fox News says instead of what it actually does, he may as well make Hannity his chief of staff.

If Biden's going to base his policy on what Fox News says instead of what it actually does

I would prefer it if DC doesn't turn into California

Dang people go off the rails when Biden doesn't lean way to the left like they would like him to.