[joe_the_user]

I didn't say this "make it so tenants can't defend themselves". My argument is that punitive policies against landlord are about the only tool being wielded

The only "punitive policy" that's being discussed is giving tenants free lawyers so they can defend themselves in court.

[strawhatguy]

Not the only policy. But it isn’t a good one to provide a lawyer only for one side. Either both or neither.

[drekk]

It’s the only one I’ve seen explicitly mentioned. As for the fairness aspect, tenants and landlords aren’t equal partners in the power dynamic. Should the state stop providing free lawyers to defendants, because it doesn’t provide free lawyers to those wanting to prosecute others?

I don’t know where this image of the “yeoman” landlord is coming from, these people are clearly financially stable enough to speculate on a human necessity but also want to be able 100% shielded from any risk? That’s not how business works, though maybe that is how business works now given how many companies and banks US taxpayers are expected to bail out.

[jjav]

> Should the state stop providing free lawyers to defendants, because it doesn’t provide free lawyers to those wanting to prosecute others?

Well, the state does provide lawyers to the prosecution side, since the prosecutor is the state.

[AYBABTME]

Well, that's not true.