should political traitors be jailed and/or shot?
By mommyboo
@mommyboo (13174)
United States
December 13, 2010 10:44am CST
Yes, I realize this is not under the 'politics' heading so it may not get the responses it would otherwise, but it's an honest question. I also realize that all of our definitions of 'political traitor' may be different, but off the top of your head, what would you decide?
If you think they deserve another chance, why? What would you do about their crimes against our country?
2 people like this
6 responses
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
14 Dec 10
I was not referring to just any publicized criticism of the U.S. Everyday of the week people all around the world make critical remarks about America. I'm talking about when someone releases confidential documents, and then while running from the law, openly mocks the U.S.
Have a wonderful day.
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
14 Dec 10
Well, people from outside the country can actually say whatever they want... as long as they are not threatening us. I suppose if they want to make fun of something they don't like, why not? However, if it's somebody from here who is using the media to talk about things that are not common knowledge, then there's a problem.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
13 Dec 10
What Alisa says is important, it depends on what country and what the offense is. Yet if the offense is serious and puts the people in the country in danger, I really don't know what would be best. Maybe putting them under a heavily secured prison would work, but then there's the slight chance of escape, causing more problems..It is a good question, one to think about..
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
14 Dec 10
Who pays for them to be in a heavily secured prison though? And who's to say they are rehabilitatable either.... hmmm, was that even a word. At the very least, they really need to be removed from their position and NEVER allowed in the field of politics in any way, shape or form again, for the extent of their lives. Make visible loud, media-attention examples of these people and maybe the next set in office won't be just as bad.
1 person likes this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
14 Dec 10
Nope, I looked it up, "rehabilitatable" is not a word, but I get your meaning and what you meant by "political traitor" I agree that they should be removed from office to never return, but as for what to do with them, I don't know. I think once again it comes back to how much damage they have done while in office.
@4mymak (1793)
• Malaysia
14 Dec 10
political 'traitors' and 'crimes against your country' - interesting...
becoz i say that there two kinds of traitors...
usually we define a traitor as someone who endangers the nation's security by selling nation's secrets - financial secrets, political secrets, security secrets.. i dont understand this group of people - what is the purpose of them doing so? and for this group of people who willingly endanger the security + the lives of his innocent 'countrymen' - he should be punished (after a fair trial, of course)..
and there is another group of 'traitors' - or 'so-called' traitors.. normally labelled by one political party against another.. normally the 'traitor' being the 'opposition', or someone who dares to speak against the 'ruling government'..
some 'democratic' countries - may not be as 'democratic' as USA, and may not accept 'freedom of speech' as freely as the USA.. so these people who speaks against the country's policies and systems, or critics a 'ruling party' politician - will also be labelled as 'traitors'.. especially when these people chose to speak about these issues abroad or to 'foreign correspondents'.. it will be seen as though these 'traitors' are 'washing their dirty laundry in public'.. putting the the whole natioin to shame..
so, what do i think about these 'traitors'... i am pretty divided.. becoz.. i dont really approve of them going around telling outsiders about their domestic problems.. but i also i understand their dilemma - when they cant express their views and thoughts locally, because of the 'strong ruling party' that can almost control all the media + the sort of information that gets out to the public..
(thank god for the internet.. we can still get some 'alternative news'...
)
) 1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Dec 10
I am not speaking of general civilians at all. This discussion has nothing to do with free speech or anything relating to the average person who is exercising their right to free speech. We all have opinions. Fortunately not all of US are part of government and thus held to a higher standard. Those in political power need to be held accountable for each and every action they take, and that means if they lie - they need to be disciplined in some way. If they embezzle, spend taxpayer money in a way we taxpayers disagree with, that money should be returned to US and they should be removed from office. There is SO much waste of taxpayer money, and it is wasted on things that many of us aren't even aware of. The few things that do get out, most of us are appalled! Meanwhile, the government also does things like deny care to medicaid or medicare recipients, decide they are not going to spend money on things that matter like internal infrastructure, education, programs that help citizens on a state and local level, etc, and instead spend billions on defense, spend billions on programs for the government employees themselves, billions on bailouts of COMPANIES rather than spending those billions in order to help ordinary citizens. I so disagreed with the bailouts, let the companies go. They should have used that money in order to modify everybody's loans so houses were not upsidedown. They should have used that to clear out all the debt people have so people could actually spend and not wonder how they were going to pay for things. Boosting the economy comes at a personal level, not a corporate level. Nothing will help if the average citizen has nothing to spend and is too afraid to spend.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Dec 10
Sure, why not. You see, I'm actually not a fan of politicians to start with and if I look at the politicians that we have encountered in the time since I have come of age, I really don't think that they are doing the good that they could be doing. That said, I don't really know a lot about politicians that have been traitors, but I do have a feeling about politicians in general. I could vote and try to change outcomes but it is hard for me to even do that because I don't honestly believe a word that they say.
@jornz87 (139)
• Philippines
14 Dec 10
well, for me,i prefer to shoot them so they can never do monkey business again. coz we will just send them to jail they can file motion for reconsideration which will give them another chance to corrupt and gamble.
@Toadsticker (246)
• United States
14 Dec 10
When you say "political traitor" do you mean committing treason against your country?
(should be taken out and shot) or do you mean being a traitor to your political party with no national security involved? (arrested if laws were broken)
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
16 Dec 10
I mean people who are IN POLITICS who make promises that are just lies, who lie, cheat, and steal basically from taxpayers, who misuse and abuse people and funds for their own agendas and their own purposes, etc. At the very LEAST, these people need to be removed from office IMMEDIATELY, stripped of any rights, almost like a non citizen. They should NEVER receive any benefits bestowed upon them by taxpayer money. These people in essence should be removed, sent away, and forced to go get their own jobs - in the civilian market - just like any of us would, and then pay for their own ins, save for their own retirement, pay ALL of their own bills, and see how they like it. If this were to occur to EVERY politician who EVER did something wrong, we'd have a very very small government, plenty of resources, and of course the current people in office would think twice before they tried to screw over the people of the country, knowing the people of the country would just remove them lol.
If we arrest an average citizen for telling our secrets to another country, then by all MEANS we need to arrest and get rid of anybody IN GOVERNMENT for lying to US and stealing OUR MONEY. DUH.
