Re:Chelsea Manning Is Expected to Leave Prison, 28 Years Early
by grandalf on Wednesday May 17, 2017 @12:33PM
(#14360083)
> I'm no expert, but _attempting_ to prosecute and actually killing is probably a worthwhile distinction.
You're being too charitable. Both have the same intent. The more asymmetrically powerful the ruler is, the less lethal the threat needs to be to create a chilling effect.
For example, rival gang members (with power parity) must kill each-other because they lack other mechanisms of coercion and must play their only card in the moment.
Creating martyrs is always sub-optimal compared to catching and incarcerating "criminals" or forcing compliance by the threat of capture or alienation/ostracism.
As a thought experiment, which state has stronger control over its citizens, Russia or Singapore?
You're being too charitable. Both have the same intent. The more asymmetrically powerful the ruler is, the less lethal the threat needs to be to create a chilling effect.
For example, rival gang members (with power parity) must kill each-other because they lack other mechanisms of coercion and must play their only card in the moment.
Creating martyrs is always sub-optimal compared to catching and incarcerating "criminals" or forcing compliance by the threat of capture or alienation/ostracism.
As a thought experiment, which state has stronger control over its citizens, Russia or Singapore?