Why should Snowden face "justice"

[mindwalker_i]

when Wall street and the banks don't?

[BeyondGeography]

1. Because he can't pay a hefty fine

[Cleita]

2. Good point. However, I do want to see him face justice one of these days

when he actually has a chance of getting his day in court without fear of being tortured, put in solitary confinement or held indefinitely without trial.

[mindwalker_i]

5. Yeah, I agree with you there

There was a post of a quote myh MLK saying that people should break unjust laws and then be there to argue against them. since the US tortures, I can kind of forgive Snowden for running. If he could present his case without being Manninged, that would be different.

[Thinkingabout]

3. I'm surprised the $250 he contributed to Ron Paul did not buy him better quarters.

[mindwalker_i]

6. $250 is enough to buy snacks

Nowhere near enough for a congress-critter.

[Cha]

16. Snowden donated twice that amount. More than I could afford to donate to

the Obama Campaign.

http://www.ibtimes.com/nsa-whistleblower-revealed-edward-snowden-donated-500-ron-pauls-2012-presidential-campaign-does-nsa

[sabrina 1]

4. He's not wealthy enough. You have to have friends on Wall St. when you break the law, and in

our government of course. You can be a War Criminal, kill hundreds of thousands of human beings, you can violate the US Constitution AND International laws, and Congress will cover for you by rewriting laws, retroactively, to make your crimes legal if you are part of the 1%. Murder, torture, economic crimes, you're good so long as you are loyal to the Corporate State.

[MjolnirTime]

7. so we're taking to the most childish of extremes?

I'll be glad when Snowden is serving time and out of the News.

[mindwalker_i]

8. Huh?

What extremes are you talking about? There have been at least several people saying he should face justice for breaking the law. You seem to agree with this line of reasoning. My question still stands: why should he face justice when Wall street and the banks don't?

[CakeGrrl]

14. OK, so a hit and run driver shouldn't go to prison

until Wall Street is punished.

Is that the line of reasoning?

Do we suspend trials for all criminals until that happens?

[mindwalker_i]

23. That's the question I ask myself every time I get called for jury duty

I'm supposed to prosecute the guy who kills one person, while the people who, arguably, killed a lot of people aren't even charged? What it looks like to me is that people who are rich or well connected don't get charged with crimes. Poor people or regular people get the book thrown at them. This means that there is now high justice and low justice, where high justice is getting off scot free, and one of the founding principles of this country, and one I still believe in, is of equality. No aristocracy.

So yes, I think it's a tragedy to keep prosecuting the non-elites while the elites go free, if not rewarded, for breaking laws.

[Chan790]

9. The path of justice is occasionally long, but inevitable for all.

If everybody else has to face justice, why not Snowden? Does the Sword of Damocles dangle different over his head?

[mindwalker_i]

10. Good point, but until the top face justice

I don't feel like Snowden should. It would be great if the whole country returned to the rule of law, but until it does, I feel like we shouldn't prosecute anyone.

[frazzled]

11. Mommy, but Susie was bad

and she didn't have to go to her room.

Can we grow up, please? The story of Wall Street and the story of Edward Snowden are totally un-effing-related. Completely different animals. Why would you even try to make some kind of connection?

Just because Billy did something wrong and didn't get punished that doesn't mean it's okay for you to do something else wrong.

[mindwalker_i]

12. The reason this matters

is that real crimes that effect the whole country and the whole world are ignored, and continue to be ignored. Then some dude like Snowden shows what we all thought anyway - that the govt. was watching everything we do - and he needs to "face justice" like the Wall streeters don't. If we already knew it, what do his revelations do? Why is that more important than the banks stealing 10s of thousands of homes? Why should he face the music when the banks don't?

[Tx4obama]

13. Snowden STOLE classified government documents. His crimes are felonies.

He must be arrested and stand trial.

Otherwise other folks that work with classified documents will think they can commit felonies against our country and get off scot-free.

Snowden's crimes ARE affecting The USA and the world.

[mindwalker_i]

24. He stole?! OMG!

It was to uncover a greater crime, namly the government STEALING all our data and communications. It's like if you shoot someone who's about to set of a nuclear bomb in a city, you don't arrest that guy for murder!

Let me put it like the rude pundit would: the government has its dick in you ass and is going to town on you. The person who takes picture and, erm, leaks them is you fucking friend!

[Lil Missy]

15. Because he's a criminal, regardless of whether other criminals get punished or not.

[noise]

17. Because of selective enforcement

When powerful or connected people commit felonies they "made good faith mistakes" or "prosecuting them would do more harm than good."

When the powerless or thorn in the side of the powerful break the law they have done "incalculable damage."

[DLevine]

20. Nailed it. nt

[Life Long Dem]

18. Because Snowden causes flight delays (Morales')

We all know how Congress reacts on flight delays. Watch out Snowden you just opened up another can of worms.

[DeSwiss]

19. Sorry, but justice for Mr. Snowden just wouldn't be convenient at this time.

I'm still somewhat surprised that those hollering loudest for his capture haven't figured out that there is absolutely no fucking way Mr. Snowden would never receive a trial. Not in an open court. He would be Guantanamo bound if he somehow remains intact. Or, maybe they have calculated and triangulated all the odds like good little centrists, and that's how they'd prefer for this to all end. Another day, another assassination.

A Star Chamber has no doubt already been convened.

- Just stay out of the middle east Mr. Snowden. That's Drone-Alley and all bets are off for everyone over there. Even children.....

K&R

[DLevine]

21. Snowden wouldn't face anything remotely resembling justice.

He would face treatment similar to what Bradley Manning is experiencing. Anyway, I'm still waiting for Bush and Cheney to be brought to justice. They are the traitors, not Snowden, in my opinion.

[Thinkingabout]

22. Snowden is entitled to his day in court, he is the one holding up the process.

I don't think his lawyers will use as a defense Bush and Cheney has not been charged with crimes. Having said this, justice should be blind. We can not allow actions taken by Snowden to occur and think they should be given a pass, his crime is serious, he must have known this when he left the USA but he did not plan far enough. Whatever happens to him in the future will be as result of his actions.