- Adherents (liberals and conservatives) sometimes don't know which side of the argument they should be on until they hear their party leaders pick a side.
- Unity between the parties is nearly impossible because each side believes the other is always wrong and those picks the opposite side of any issue.
- In reality, in the world in which we live, issues are complicated. Each case has nuances that should be assessed instead of trying to make things simple and live by dogmatic rules. For example, there is probably no one in the United States that thinks our borders should be totally open so that anyone can come into the country anonymously. Likewise, there is probably no one in the United States that thinks our borders should be completely closed to anyone at all from coming in to the country. Yet, each party seems to approach the immigration challenges as if we must reach the enforcement of one extreme or the other. At least, that seems to be the dogma that is preached.
Should we punish the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia for ordering the murder of a U.S. reporter? There are arguments to be made for both sides. And anyone advocating either position should first be able to state the opposing position and thus demonstrate that they understand it. If you can't understand both sides of the debate, then perhaps your opinion should not be considered.
One reason we should not punish the Crown Prince is because the Crown Prince might retaliate in dreadful ways. I don't know what those ways might be, but I believe American decision-makers have a list and that few of the items on the list look palatable. That is to say, that in looking at the list, President Biden may be thinking that the world will be a better place if we don't punish the Crown Prince because it will keep the Crown Prince from responding violently. Let's just pretend that the Crown Prince had access to nuclear weapons, and that we knew if we punished him that he would launch a strike of those missiles on an innocent city, let's pick London. Would you still advocate a specific punishment for the Crown Prince if you knew that the response would be the nuclear devastation of London? If so, I pity you and hope that you are not in a position to make any decisions that can affect the lives of others.
But, one reason we should punish the Crown Prince is to show that we are not giving him the leeway to do whatever he wants. People that commit crimes should be held accountable. If not, they will continue to commit more crimes realizing they will not be punished. Just look at the string of crimes committed by Donald Trump. Prior to the election there was much evidence about sex scandals and adultery to which he was not held accountable. As he took office he told us he would give up his business interests so that he did not violate the emoluments clause, yet he did not do so and was not held accountable. There were many such violations of law and norms but the Republican party in the Senate would not hold him accountable and thus he realized he could get away with any crime leading up to organizing and staging an assault on the U.S. Capitol in a desperate attempt to overthrow the U.S. Government with a coup.
For the last reason, we should punish the Crown Prince. Ultimately I am certain that the Biden administration will punish the Crown Prince, though it will probably be in small ways that won't draw significant retaliation from the Crown Prince. It could be from the denial of future sales of weapons to the country. However, this punishment could fail if we elect a President, like Trump, that is under the manipulative powers of Saudi Arabia.
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