If we are fortunate enough to have Gillibrand run in 2020, we will have someone morally opposed

[octoberlib]

68. Zero tolerance doesn't work. It's been an absolute disaster in our public schools

and will prove to be so for our party. Plus it's intellectually lazy.

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/12/08/zero-tolerance-is-never-the-answer/


I think zero tolerance policies come about for a couple of reasons. 1) the media and 2) it's easy and definitive for politicians to implement and for constituents to understand.

When there is an ongoing problem in society and the solutions to fix it have been mixed or negligible, suddenly becomes white hot politically, the Media (in whatever form) amplifies the problem, particularly the mixed or negligible solutions, and demand that politicians do something. Anything. Now. Politicians panic, look for the easiest, simplest thing to. Zero Tolerance becomes their go to.

Zero tolerance subverts any discussion of what is really going on and how do we address it. It doesn't benefit us, it doesn't requires to think like adults and participate like adults. It just shuts the whole thing down. Do we want justice or just revenge. Do we want to build policies, practices and guidelines that make the workplace and the world better and safer for women or just create fear, shame, confusion and alienation between men and women.

I think the Democrats are missing a real opportunity for a teaching, transformative moment. When the Democrats were asked why they wanted Franken to resign, they struggled or gave vague reasons such as "this is too much" or "enough is enough" etc. But what is too much? What is the criteria? What is the appropriate response. Who is redeemable and who should be locked away or permanently shunned? These are things we should be talking about. But instead, they forced him to resign, any nothing is really addressed.


Personally, I don't think Gillibrand will survive the primary.