733
The assassination of United Healthcare's CEO is a real life trolley problem, and a select few are trying to argue to save all lives while the train is going to kill the masses. (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by moral_quandary@lemmy.world to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
386 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It appears that in every thread about this event there is someone calling everyone else in the thread sick and twisted for not proclaiming that all lives are sacred and being for the death of one individual.

It really is a real life trolley problem because those individuals are not seeing the deaths caused by the insurance industry and not realizing that sitting back and doing nothing (i.e. not pulling the lever on the train track switch) doesn't save lives...people are going to continue to die if nothing is done.

Taking a moral high ground and stating that all lives matter is still going to costs lives and instead of it being a few CEOs it will be thousands.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago

The idea that punishment works is the concept behind our entire justice system

It's one of the concepts, and that's a big part of why we have so much evidence against it.

[-] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

On a quick google:

The certainty of being caught is a vastly more powerful deterrent than the punishment. Research shows clearly: If criminals think there's only a slim chance they will be caught, the severity of punishment — even draconian punishment — is an ineffective deterrent to crime

So the more executions, the more effective it is?

[-] chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Sounds right, but again with the caveat, what are they being caught for? Being a healthcare executive at all? Some vaguely defined moral threshhold? What is it they are being taught to fear, and how disconnected is that from any actual intention? Like beating a dog to try to get it to stop destroying your furniture. And then consider that certain punishment for them isn't actually realistic unless it's the government imposing it. Vigilantes can't get them all or probably even many of them.

[-] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

If anything, China and Russia have shown that having unclear laws and lines are far more effective than clear-cut rules, because when you don't know where the line is, you self-police to a degree more than the state would otherwise do. It doesn't work on dogs because they aren't intelligent enough to understand. It DOES work on humans because we get it.

Vigilantes can’t get them all or probably even many of them.

That would depend on how popular a movement it becomes, hmm? It certainly worked for the IRA.

this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2024
733 points (91.4% liked)

Showerthoughts

30000 readers
487 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    • 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    • 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    • 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
vatlark@lemmy.world
forkball@lemmy.world
quinten@lemmy.world
Thekingoflorda@lemmy.world