GVC
Well-Known Member
Stop being so damn sensible!
Nissan resorts to hiring ex-felon to endorse their products.
- Thread starter Chad Feldheimer
- Start date
Using the conflict justification for NPR's firing of Juan Williams is equivalent to justifying the NFL locking felons out. The NFL is in the entertainment business. Everything the players do publicly affects the NFL organization. I'm sure you're all going to run to the defense of the NFL's rights to fire these guys if that's what the market wants, regardless of what is moral or ethical?
GVC
Well-Known Member
eh?
GVC
Well-Known Member
I have no problem with NFL teams (or, by extension, the NFL itself) choosing not to hire (or to fire) a felon because it would negatively effect their bottom line. These are entertainers after all.
With that said, I think "criminals", in many instances (something like 1/2 of the inmates in America are in prison for non-violent offenses), aren't given a fair shake in American society, even when it's obvious that 1) it's highly unlikely that they'll repeat offend, 2) the punishment acts as a sufficient deterrent to non-desperate people and 3) the cost of prolonged punishment of the offender is far greater than the benefits he/she could provide to society (and the economy) if not for said punishment.
Why do we lock so many people up? Why, as American citizens, do we feel so compelled to continue punishing otherwise productive people after they've done their time? How much punishment is enough punishment?
It seems to me, for various reasons, that we've gone too far here.
With that said, I think "criminals", in many instances (something like 1/2 of the inmates in America are in prison for non-violent offenses), aren't given a fair shake in American society, even when it's obvious that 1) it's highly unlikely that they'll repeat offend, 2) the punishment acts as a sufficient deterrent to non-desperate people and 3) the cost of prolonged punishment of the offender is far greater than the benefits he/she could provide to society (and the economy) if not for said punishment.
Why do we lock so many people up? Why, as American citizens, do we feel so compelled to continue punishing otherwise productive people after they've done their time? How much punishment is enough punishment?
It seems to me, for various reasons, that we've gone too far here.
If the NFL and its component teams (whether the league is a single entity or not is a subject of much dispute) determined that it didn't want to employ Michael Vick because of his criminal history, character issues, public relations hit or whatever that would be within their rights. I would not be stringently asserting that the NFL is obligated to continue to employ him.
I think all TICC, Viny, et. al. are saying is that we shouldn't demonize a company simply because it chooses to believe that a particular felon is rehabilitated and may bring them value and that the "all felons are taboo" attitude is probably somewhat counterproductive.
I doubt that, sir.
Let me rephrase: I love dogs. My black lab is in my Christmas Card for hell sakes. I think that people who torture and kill animals/dogs should have their sacks torn off like a paper towel. I have zero respect for rapists/child molesters, which is kind of where I was going when I was saying they're on the same line. Zero tolerance for the lot of them.
There, is that better?
p.s. I love you.
Thank you.
I'm in 100% agreement with TICC on this one. If for no other reason, I don't understand the internal desire of many Americans to provide disincentives to ex-cons. You'd think we would reward productive behavior and hope it cuts down on repeat offenders. In fact, I applaud Nissan's decision to hire Vick as a spokesperson. It's a reward for the positive life changes and rehabilitation work he's put in.
Marty McFly
Well-Known Member
Agreed. I'd much rather have a Chevy or Ford which only cost about $15k more, perform much worse in any unbiased test and sport a stylish interior straight from 1995.
C l u t c H 385
Banned
Way to hate America you terrorist piece of ****.
Ahhh the foibles of the Buy American jingoist.
C l u t c H 385
Banned
Ahhh the America hatin d-bag. Friggin terrorist I tell ya.
GVC
Well-Known Member
But you love a good burger...
I don't have cows in my yard, or sleeping at the foot of my bed. I don't love cows outside of the delicious meat they produce.
I hate air pollution as well -- are you going to pull the, "but you still drive a car..." horse crap?
Wrong. Again. I buy American whenever I can. In fact I would prefer to buy American. But only when there's value. I don't just buy American because I'm some sort of jingoist hack. Because if I did then I would take away all the incentive for the company to get better if they put an inferior product on the market. You see, I value my pocketbook more than I do supporting a company that puts out garbage product.
So the only difference in whether it's a horrific act or not is if the animal has a name or not?
Marty McFly
Well-Known Member
So it's okay what Michael Vick did?
Chad Feldheimer
Well-Known Member
That is a fair comment. Treat them on a case by case basis. If you make dogs fight until they have ripped each other apart and then take them and beat them against the wall, drown, electrocute and other horrible stuff don't be shocked when people still think you are a douche bag even if you went to prison.
If you a guy who was selling marijuana and got nailed... I could probably get over that a little quicker.
Absolutely ****ing not. I would have turned him in personally. I love dogs, my parents dog, just as much as Ballou, if not more. But that does not mean that I believe individuals are static and not capable of change.
Furthermore, I either respect the rules of law and punishment or I don't. Again, he served his time, paid his court fees, paid his fines, so he paid his debt to society.
Are you trying to defend your cow-fighting ring or something?
Absolutely Chad. No one is arguing otherwise. The dude is a complete and utter douchebag.