Revolutionary Moderation

Dumb politics, Florida edition

Saying that it was "common sense", Jeb Bush has made it legal in Florida to defend yourself with force if you feel threatened on the streets of, oh, let's say Disneyland.

Actually, common sense dictates to me that the government should try to ratchet down the level of violence, not condone a free-for-all. Shakespeare understood that nearly half a millennia ago:

Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,--
.....
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,
.....
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.

(------------Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Scene I)

Then again, perhaps Jeb was moved by the story. Instead of committing suicide, Romeo can simply plead to the constable. "But Paris was being a total dick! Look what he did to Mercutio! Dude totally had it coming." Of course, Juliet might notice the lack of value Romeo places on Capulet lives, feel threatened herself, and cap Romeo. You can see how this goes - instead of just four corpses, viewers of the play will see the bodies stack up like cordwood. They'll think they wandered into Hamlet, instead.

Oh, if only Prince Jeb had shown the wisdom of his fictional Verona predecessor!

Hmm. I digress by quite a distance. Stupid idea, is what I'm saying here.