The case for raising traffic fines for the rich: Daily Bullshit, July 22, 2016 (updated again and again)

Updated for Hillary Clinton’s pick for vice president. Updated again for more information on him. Updated yet again for progressive reaction to the pick

Police killings

In essence, Astra Taylor’s argument is that since much of the contact between police and vulnerable populations occurs in a context of raising revenue, we should set fines for traffic violations according to ability to pay and thereby shift the incentives.^[1] I’m remembering when I got pulled over for speeding just after I was passed by a Mercedes Benz (although I was in my rather nice 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SSEi at the time). And when while in pursuit of an older speeding vehicle, a highway patrol officer paused to shake his finger at me in the then-comparatively nicer same vehicle. So yeah, I guess I know from personal experience that cops do sometimes target the poor. Even if there weren’t so much other evidence available, it wouldn’t therefore be surprising that cops target subaltern groups at least some of the time.

Astra Taylor, “Want Police Reform? Charge Rich People More for Speeding Tickets,” Common Dreams, July 22, 2016, http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/07/22/want-police-reform-charge-rich-people-more-speeding-tickets

Bernie Sanders

Elliot Smilowitz and Joe Uchill, “Leaked DNC emails reveal secret plans to take on Sanders,” Hill, July 22, 2016, http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/288900-leaked-dnc-emails-reveal-secret-plans-to-take-on-sanders

Hillary Clinton

Tim Kaine seems unlikely to appeal to Bernie Sanders’ supporters. It looks like Hillary Clinton thinks she’s running too far to the left.^[2]

Dylan Matthews, “Tim Kaine is Hillary Clinton’s VP pick, a mostly safe choice that will piss off pro-choice activists,” Vox, July 22, 2016, http://www.vox.com/2016/7/22/12244762/tim-kaine-hillary-clinton-vice-president-running-mate-announcement

Amie Parnes, “Clinton picks Kaine for VP,” Hill, July 22, 2016, http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/288582-clinton-picks-kaine-for-vp

Jon Queally, “Clinton Inflames Progressive Base with Choice of Tim Kaine as Vice President,” Common Dreams, July 22, 2016, http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/07/22/clinton-inflames-progressive-base-choice-tim-kaine-vice-president

1. ^[1]Astra Taylor, “Want Police Reform? Charge Rich People More for Speeding Tickets,” Common Dreams, July 22, 2016, http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/07/22/want-police-reform-charge-rich-people-more-speeding-tickets↩
2. ^[2]Jon Queally, “Clinton Inflames Progressive Base with Choice of Tim Kaine as Vice President,” Common Dreams, July 22, 2016, http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/07/22/clinton-inflames-progressive-base-choice-tim-kaine-vice-president↩