Re:Journalist’s phone hacked: all he had to do was visit any...
by hutzlibu on Wednesday June 24, 2020 @06:29AM
(#23626304)
Well, here in germany it definitely is a crime to be member of a criminal or terroristic organisation (§ 129) and I am pretty sure in the US its the same.
And it makes sense. The concept is valid, if you knowingly support criminal activity, which you do by associating with them, you are guilty (by varying degree). Mere familiy members of the mafia in italy for example will usually not being prosecuted, even though they are part of it.
What you mean with guilt by association, is when the nazis for example enprisoned whole families, because one member was part of the resistance. And from the point of view of the Nazis this also makes sense. Because family members do support each other and are close(in ideology), so one enemy in a group means, there are probably more and if not, then it is an example for others not to help anyone resisting even if it is your brother and rather stop or support them.
So the problem with guilt by association to me is not the concept, but how it is applied.
The cruel, despotic government is the problem in the first place, not the tactics they use.
And this concrete case here is about supporting authorian, cruel governments, by (indirectly) working for them.
And I am free to despise and avoid people by my own standards, no matter that they are within the borders of the law.
And it makes sense. The concept is valid, if you knowingly support criminal activity, which you do by associating with them, you are guilty (by varying degree). Mere familiy members of the mafia in italy for example will usually not being prosecuted, even though they are part of it.
What you mean with guilt by association, is when the nazis for example enprisoned whole families, because one member was part of the resistance. And from the point of view of the Nazis this also makes sense. Because family members do support each other and are close(in ideology), so one enemy in a group means, there are probably more and if not, then it is an example for others not to help anyone resisting even if it is your brother and rather stop or support them.
So the problem with guilt by association to me is not the concept, but how it is applied.
The cruel, despotic government is the problem in the first place, not the tactics they use.
And this concrete case here is about supporting authorian, cruel governments, by (indirectly) working for them.
And I am free to despise and avoid people by my own standards, no matter that they are within the borders of the law.