this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2026
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Threats and promises are your guiding principles? (discuss.online)
submitted 15 hours ago by VetOfTheSeas@discuss.online to c/atheism@lemmy.world
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[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 0 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago)

It’s that if I had a guaranteed way of stopping these people with no personal risk, I would feel obligated to do so

I understand the impulse. But I might also posit that an individual with the power to kill with impunity will quickly become a tool of national media and demagoguery. We're seeing this play out in the age of Trump, with people like Laura Loomer and Steven Miller whispering in his ear to devastating consequence.

Anyone who claims they'd be more clear-eyed, more level-headed, and more rational need only go back a president or two to Joe Biden (genocide in Gaza) and Barack Obama (drone striker in chief, from Libya to Afghanistan). You're going to have a modern day Allen Dulles on your shoulder, telling you all about how you're going to be greeted as a Liberator once you put down the pen. And you're going to kill a whole lot of people for reasons that make you feel good, but end up doing a lot of evil.

If nothing else, consider how many folks in NATO countries would have - if given the Death Note - immediately scribbled the names of a dozen world leaders from rival countries? And then a dozen political leaders from rival parties? And then a dozen national celebrities and media figures with rival ideologies? And then what would the consequences of this be? Did Iranian government become better when Khomanie's name ended up in the book?

FFS, they explore this in the Anime. Light ends up killing a lot of good people simply because he's personally resentful or fearful of being caught.