NME
@nme365.bsky.social
Thanks! Are there any consequences for violating your oath, aside from the social/moral/normative ones? Does the soldier who disobeys an unlawful order get formally punished in some way for violating their oath?
(Not trying to be disagreeable, just genuinely curious)
(Not trying to be disagreeable, just genuinely curious)
November 25, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Thanks! Are there any consequences for violating your oath, aside from the social/moral/normative ones? Does the soldier who disobeys an unlawful order get formally punished in some way for violating their oath?
(Not trying to be disagreeable, just genuinely curious)
(Not trying to be disagreeable, just genuinely curious)
Agreed. Could you explain what you mean when you say that officers "aren't oath bound to follow orders"? I would have thought they have the same obligation as anyone else to follow orders from a superior officer.
November 25, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Agreed. Could you explain what you mean when you say that officers "aren't oath bound to follow orders"? I would have thought they have the same obligation as anyone else to follow orders from a superior officer.
Yeah, although I still think it's worth reminding them of their right to disobey unlawful orders. Obeying might be the best way to avoid legal consequences, but it might not save them from the guilt or opprobrium that comes with doing something terrible that they didn't have to do.
November 25, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Yeah, although I still think it's worth reminding them of their right to disobey unlawful orders. Obeying might be the best way to avoid legal consequences, but it might not save them from the guilt or opprobrium that comes with doing something terrible that they didn't have to do.
As others have pointed out, exercising the right is very risky, which is why the obligation only applies in scenarios where the order is manifestly unlawful. This lessens the soldier’s obligation to weigh the legality of each order. Usually the prudent thing to do is just obey the order.
November 25, 2025 at 12:29 AM
As others have pointed out, exercising the right is very risky, which is why the obligation only applies in scenarios where the order is manifestly unlawful. This lessens the soldier’s obligation to weigh the legality of each order. Usually the prudent thing to do is just obey the order.
It’s also important to distinguish the *right* to disobey from the *duty* to disobey. You have the right to disobey any illegal order, and you have the duty to disobey a manifestly illegal order.
November 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
It’s also important to distinguish the *right* to disobey from the *duty* to disobey. You have the right to disobey any illegal order, and you have the duty to disobey a manifestly illegal order.
This doesn't mean that you get to call yourself working class because you spend extravagantly. And then there's the question of whether the nature of the work matters (blue collar vs. white collar, manual vs. clerical, etc.). In common parlance (i.e. not Marx), I think it matters.
November 24, 2025 at 11:39 PM
This doesn't mean that you get to call yourself working class because you spend extravagantly. And then there's the question of whether the nature of the work matters (blue collar vs. white collar, manual vs. clerical, etc.). In common parlance (i.e. not Marx), I think it matters.
I'm not sure if looking at percentiles is particularly helpful. It's possible that the large majority of the country is "working class." I don't think income level disqualifies you unless you're earning enough to retire from working to live a modest but comfortable life.
November 24, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I'm not sure if looking at percentiles is particularly helpful. It's possible that the large majority of the country is "working class." I don't think income level disqualifies you unless you're earning enough to retire from working to live a modest but comfortable life.
He didn’t write off Africa as irrelevant to Cdn economic strength.
November 23, 2025 at 6:57 PM
He didn’t write off Africa as irrelevant to Cdn economic strength.
Yes, Russia should stop attacking countries.
November 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Yes, Russia should stop attacking countries.
I really wish we would stop drawing historical comparisons which suggest Russia can conquer Europe. It's been almost 4 years, and they still haven't gotten past the Dnieper River!
November 23, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I really wish we would stop drawing historical comparisons which suggest Russia can conquer Europe. It's been almost 4 years, and they still haven't gotten past the Dnieper River!
www.calbar.ca.gov
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
wow that’s really cool man, you’re really impressive, good for you
November 23, 2025 at 12:26 PM
wow that’s really cool man, you’re really impressive, good for you
So are you saying that the penal policies of the USSR should be emulated?
November 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
So are you saying that the penal policies of the USSR should be emulated?
An intentional sabotage effort designed to derail trains is not “similar issues”…
November 23, 2025 at 11:55 AM
An intentional sabotage effort designed to derail trains is not “similar issues”…
I don’t think they’re saying it’s not a big deal, only that they shouldn’t go to prison for “a long long time.” I also think they probably have a point that you have no idea how harsh even a brief stint in prison is!
November 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
I don’t think they’re saying it’s not a big deal, only that they shouldn’t go to prison for “a long long time.” I also think they probably have a point that you have no idea how harsh even a brief stint in prison is!
One of those has the potential to actually improve outcomes, and I don't think it's the one you think.
November 22, 2025 at 7:31 PM
One of those has the potential to actually improve outcomes, and I don't think it's the one you think.
Yeah, as I said I think it was a reasonable thing for him to do. The question is how long the goodwill lasts. Overall, I think whatever positive or negative effects this meeting yields will be fleeting.
November 22, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Yeah, as I said I think it was a reasonable thing for him to do. The question is how long the goodwill lasts. Overall, I think whatever positive or negative effects this meeting yields will be fleeting.
Trump being ecstatic to meet Mamdani reminds me of Elon Musk crying when Neil Armstrong said that SpaceX was dumb.
November 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Trump being ecstatic to meet Mamdani reminds me of Elon Musk crying when Neil Armstrong said that SpaceX was dumb.
I think he viewed it as a low-cost, low-risk play to foster goodwill with a person who can cause serious harm to his constituents. I think that's reasonable, although I think it's also reasonable to criticize him for casting Trump in a relatively positive light.
November 22, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I think he viewed it as a low-cost, low-risk play to foster goodwill with a person who can cause serious harm to his constituents. I think that's reasonable, although I think it's also reasonable to criticize him for casting Trump in a relatively positive light.
It’s also inevitable that this will be subsumed by subsequent events. Did the first collegial Trump/Carney press conference lead to a lasting improvement in Trump’s standings in Canada?
November 22, 2025 at 5:07 PM
It’s also inevitable that this will be subsumed by subsequent events. Did the first collegial Trump/Carney press conference lead to a lasting improvement in Trump’s standings in Canada?
I share your misgivings about it, but I also think Stoller and Grim fall into the “high engagement, low information” category. They have the same sophistication as the median voter, but they’re way, way more plugged into this kind of thing.
November 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I share your misgivings about it, but I also think Stoller and Grim fall into the “high engagement, low information” category. They have the same sophistication as the median voter, but they’re way, way more plugged into this kind of thing.
I was talking about when Schumer was trying to get Voting Rights legislation passed under Biden (when Manchin and Sinema were in the senate).
November 22, 2025 at 4:18 AM
I was talking about when Schumer was trying to get Voting Rights legislation passed under Biden (when Manchin and Sinema were in the senate).