[coldtea]

The whole point of this thread is that what's "legally relevant" is not always what's morally or humanely relevant.

That's a millennia old distinction people have made. It's difficult for the puritan mindset to parse, of course.

Sodomy (and being gay) was not that far ago persecuted (still is in the books in some states). Blacks where not allowed in the same establishment as whites.

Slavery was the law once. I wouldn't blame Southern border guards looking the other way when blacks crossed to the North. Even if they took a bride.

And let's not forget the "I was just following orders"/"the law at the time" excuse that tons of military trials clarified that it is not a valid excuse.

[pessimizer]

It'd be better if sodomy and slavery were legal for people who could pay the bribe, but prosecuted in the cases of poor people and racial/religious/political minorities (aka people the official doesn't like and can't do anything for them)? It's a legitimate point of view to be an advocate for kleptocracy, but it's honestly rare to see one in the wild. I consider selective enforcement and latitude in sentencing the constant lurking enemy of Black people in the US; I think you've already got what you want there.

[coldtea]

>It'd be better if sodomy and [flee from] slavery were legal for people who could pay the bribe, but prosecuted in the cases of poor people and racial/religious/political minorities (aka people the official doesn't like and can't do anything for them)?

Compared to it being totally illegal for everybody and 100% enforced, yes, it would be better.

Compared to fully killing anti-sodomy laws and slavery, of course, not.

But in the real world, totally changing a law takes far more time (and influence) that merely being able to leverage some wiggle room/bribe/whatever.

>It's a legitimate point of view to be an advocate for kleptocracy, but it's honestly rare to see one in the wild.

The actual and powerful kleptocracy are people who have influence on government and on MAKING laws -- not those at the bottom taking some bribe or looking the other way for a friend etc.