Justice.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

I was reading a heartwarming story today of a 22 year old black man who was shot and paralyzed by a police officer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The jury - of cource since the man lived morally and ethically there had to be a retaliatory lawsuit in the interest of basic human rights - awarded slightly over 22 million dollars after deliberating for 3.5 hours. I believe the settlement is too low but my husband made me see it a different way - since the settlement is far from astronomical, there can be settlements for future police victims that live beyond their encounter with the police (though I question if this is more incentive for the police to kill their victims?)

I don't know the man or his plans but this settlement is enough for him to triumphantly put America behind him (if he wants, once again I don't know him or his plans), and on America's dime. This wouldn't gain his mobility back but could be a tutorial to future police victims of how to retaliate in a full and legal way. Regardless.....I'm grateful for once some justice has been served up. It gives me some hope. Rob

[LDAHL]

What do you mean by "triumphantly put America behind him"? Are you perhaps projecting your own oft-stated wish on him?

[razz]

Not sure that justice has been served. He will need funds to pay his way through life and should receive those. Beyond that, I see the US taxpayer paying the tab. There is no free ride for anyone. The exorbitant settlements penalize those who have no say in the courtroom meaning the taxpayers struggling to pay their bills.
A fair settlement by all means but 22 million dollars!

[gimmethesimplelife]

What do you mean by "triumphantly put America behind him"? Are you perhaps projecting your own oft-stated wish on him?I honestly can't see a logical reason for this litigant not to switch countries. Why would anyone stay after suffering such in a country reputed to be developed? For what purpose? Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

Not sure that justice has been served. He will need funds to pay his way through life and should receive those. Beyond that, I see the US taxpayer paying the tab. There is no free ride for anyone. The exorbitant settlements penalize those who have no say in the courtroom meaning the taxpayers struggling to pay their bills.
A fair settlement by all means but 22 million dollars!I still maintain the settlement was too low. The point is to cool down trigger happy cops and for insurance companies to step in and force some changes after suffering numerous large settlements due to police disregard for human life. Rob

[iris lilies]

I honestly can't see a logical reason for this litigant not to switch countries. Why would anyone stay after suffering such in a country reputed to be developed? For what purpose? Rob
Rob, your obsession is nearly at a pathological point. But we are in a free country and you can obsess about whatever you like. Yay for America!

To your question Ill just turn that around: why arent you leaving this country? Youve told us in the past it has something to do with your family ties. I Would imagine that this new millionaire has the same reasons to stay. He will find many relatives and friends coming out of the woodwork now. Lets hope he sets up a good trust to dole out the money regularly or else it will be gone in 3 years.

besides, he wont get $22 million, the lawyers end up with a big chunk.

[LDAHL]

I honestly can't see a logical reason for this litigant not to switch countries. Why would anyone stay after suffering such in a country reputed to be developed? For what purpose? Rob

I don't follow your logic. Someone once broke into my apartment and stole some of my stuff, but I didn't blame "America" for allowing it to happen. If I were unfortunate enough to be shot by a cop, I might blame the cop, or even the poor supervision and training of his superiors, I wouldn't focus my anger on some artificial person I called America.

[LDAHL]

Not sure that justice has been served. He will need funds to pay his way through life and should receive those. Beyond that, I see the US taxpayer paying the tab. There is no free ride for anyone. The exorbitant settlements penalize those who have no say in the courtroom meaning the taxpayers struggling to pay their bills.
A fair settlement by all means but 22 million dollars!

If it was a jury award rather than a settlement, most municipalities would appeal as a matter of course. A lot of big headline numbers get quietly whittled down after the fact. An initial award is often only the start of a long process.

[razz]

Where would someone go that had just been granted 22 million dollars minus the legal etc., expenses? Africa has serious problems but is working to resolve them as do Asia, Europe and the Mid-East. People are leaving the southern American countries and sending children on ahead to escape the tragic circumstances there.

Rob, it is time to count one's blessings that you live where you do right now. Utopia is a dream. There is no magic carpet there. It takes work to improve things that are wrong. How many million were killed in Asia, Africa and Europe over the past century alone?

Sorry to say, my dear, that you need to wake up and see all the good going on.

[bae]

The Federal Government gets a bit upset if you try to leave the country permanently and take your capital with you. They assume that you are doing so to escape future taxes, and preemptively confiscate a sizable chunk of the assets.

Just so you know.

[Williamsmith]

The Federal Government gets a bit upset if you try to leave the country permanently and take your capital with you. They assume that you are doing so to escape future taxes, and preemptively confiscate a sizable chunk of the assets.

Just so you know.

Luckily for you Rob, you probably aren't encumbered by 22 million dollars. Although if you rode around on a bicycle in the streets until you were pulled over in a high crime area, you might whip out your cell phone and suddenly have to stay here.

[Gardenarian]

Rob, your obsession is nearly at a pathological point. But we are in a free country and you can obsess about whatever you like. Yay for America!

To your question Ill just turn that around: why arent you leaving this country? Youve told us in the past it has something to do with your family ties. I Would imagine that this new millionaire has the same reasons to stay. He will find many relatives and friends coming out of the woodwork now. Lets hope he sets up a good trust to dole out the money regularly or else it will be gone in 3 years.

besides, he wont get $22 million, the lawyers end up with a big chunk.

Pathological? Rob has many times pointed out the failures in the American medical system and the unjust treatment of non-whites and immigrants, and noted that many other countries are succeeding in areas where the U.S. is failing.

This is not crazy. “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” - Krishnamurti

[iris lilies]

Pathological? Rob has many times pointed out the failures in the American medical system and the unjust treatment of non-whites and immigrants, and noted that many other countries are succeeding in areas where the U.S. is failing.

This is not crazy. “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” - Krishnamurti

There are many many reasons to move from the U.S.

Ive said several times over the years that if I came into a big sum of money such as $ 22 million, I likely would flee to Yorkshire for the purpose of better gardening opportunities. Id also have a cottage in the south where it is sunnier, for more/better gardening. I would do this for a while, anyway, if not permenantly.

But I dont expect everyone to take that route. We value different things and to expect everyone to take my chosen path seems like rigid black and white thinking. I would not, for instance, loose respect for someone who gave up their citizenship in another country and is staying in the U.S.; that seems like an extreme opinion.

I dont wish to make decisions for others. I dont expect everyone to value what I value or to have the priorities that I have.

[iris lilies]

The Federal Government gets a bit upset if you try to leave the country permanently and take your capital with you. They assume that you are doing so to escape future taxes, and preemptively confiscate a sizable chunk of the assets.

Just so you know.
Killjoy.

[Ultralight]

I was reading a heartwarming story today of a 22 year old black man who was shot and paralyzed by a police officer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The jury - of cource since the man lived morally and ethically there had to be a retaliatory lawsuit in the interest of basic human rights - awarded slightly over 22 million dollars after deliberating for 3.5 hours. I believe the settlement is too low but my husband made me see it a different way - since the settlement is far from astronomical, there can be settlements for future police victims that live beyond their encounter with the police (though I question if this is more incentive for the police to kill their victims?)

I don't know the man or his plans but this settlement is enough for him to triumphantly put America behind him (if he wants, once again I don't know him or his plans), and on America's dime. This wouldn't gain his mobility back but could be a tutorial to future police victims of how to retaliate in a full and legal way. Regardless.....I'm grateful for once some justice has been served up. It gives me some hope. Rob

Rob: See my new thread about Between The World And Me.

I think you might really find the book interesting and insightful. You might also feel a kinship or with the author, and perhaps some ideological brotherhood.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Pathological? Rob has many times pointed out the failures in the American medical system and the unjust treatment of non-whites and immigrants, and noted that many other countries are succeeding in areas where the U.S. is failing.

This is not crazy. “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” - KrishnamurtiThank You. Your post here has given me some hope. Rob

[bae]

Thank You. Your post here has given me some hope. Rob

"Hope is not a plan."

[Gardenarian]

"Hope is not a plan."

Killjoy :)

[LDAHL]

Didn't Rudy Giuliani say something like "Hope is not a strategy and change is not a destination"?

I thought that pretty much summarized the Obama years.