The Michael Vick Situation
I am sure many people are going to ask how this can be considered a political issue. What these same people forget is that any instance where the government steps in and takes action is considered political in nature.Michael Vick (for those of you under a rock for the past several weeks) was indicted on dogfighting charges last month due to his association/ownership of "Bad Newz Kennel." The three accomplices in the crimes have already agreed to plea deals, leaving Vick alone to battle the courts. He will serve up to 1 year in prison and pay $250,000 in fines if he pleads guilty to a deal...but will look at up to 5 years if he sticks it out in court.
On top of that he is being barred from training camp by the NFL, the Falcons are looking to go after the $22 million in signing bonuses they granted him 4 years ago, and the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, is conducting his own investigation that may land Vick out of the league indefinately.
"We're going to do what we always said we were going to do, which is rely on the facts," Goodell stated last week. "If there is some type of a plea agreement, then we will obviously take the time to understand what that plea is and we'll see how it fits into our personal conduct policy."
Most people will agree that whatever Michael was doing, it was wrong and should not be tolerated. With that, we should also agree that the government should have no say in this matter. Thats right, I am taking Vick's side on this one.
What someone chooses to do on their own land with legal items they paid for and own is their business. Dogs (in the eyes of the government) are simply property. What he decides to do with that property is no concern of the government. He wasn't unleashing that property onto others in a violent manner, nor was he using them as a tool for criminal acts.
Whether or not we should be viewing this as acceptable is a completely different matter, as is whatever the NFL decides to do since they are a private organization with their own set of rules and conduct. Vick should be subject to these expectations, but not the will of the government...his "accomplices" included.
I don't like or approve of what he did and believe that the NFL and rest of society should inflict an acceptable punishment in the form of bans and stigmas. If Vick chooses to sacrifice his standing in society over dogfighting, then that is his choice. My point stands, however, that it is not the governments place to rule over this issue. The line needs to be drawn.
posted by Carl Soderberg at
10:59 AM
10 Comments:
I disagree, dogs are property granted but the state had animal cruelty laws. Oh and it was more then just dog fighting, he excuted dogs via hanging and drowning etc. That is a disgrace and the gov has the right to go after him. Sorry to say i think you totally off base on this one.
It may be a disgrace, but once again, it is his property. It is also a disgrace to break up expensive antiques or furniture, tear up a Mickey Mantle baseball card, or burn a lively tree (if your an environmentalist), but once again thats all up to the disgretion of the individual who OWNS said property. Sure, we can pass our own judgement and say the government should act accordingly, but our judgement and penalties (and those from the NFL) based on that should be enough.
Whether or not the government has laws against animal cruety doesnt take away from his point either...he is simply stating that such laws when the actions are done on Vick's property to his property shouldnt be the governments business. It is dispicable, but again, where does the government come in?
lol, grand poobah? Sweet nickanme :P. Vick sucks and he'll go down for murdering those dogs big time...he should get the same punishment he gave the dogs!
Youre crazy...and today brought about justice. Mike Vick is pleading guilty in return for lesser punishment and will serve prison time. Now he just has to wait and see if he'll ever get a chance to play football again.
And you know what? He got what he deserved...I still think he needs a little more though.
to hell with Vick. Great football player, terrible person, leader and role model. He will never see the field again.
I can see where this is coming from...While I do not agree with Vick's choice of actions, I also dont like the law stepping in to "take care" of it. I mean, we train dogs to race, do tricks or fluff up for dog shows...that could be considered "cruelty" to an extent.
But God forbid you train them to fight...thats something we save for us humans. I see big money in dogfighting.
And yes, a pet is property...property that has "laws" protecting it.
couldn't this argument be applied to the whole legalize drugs thing? its their personal business, not hurting anyone, why does the govenrmnt have to come in and take it all away?
And by the way, someone mentioned the executions (which are also vile and disgusting)...but if dogs are property, how is that any different (in the eyes of the government) from chopping down a tree on my land that hasn't lived up to snuff in my mind?
Yes, murdering the dogs was a terrible thing...but Im sure if there were more Al Gores out there running things (and setting laws), it would also be a crime to chop down that tree.
Vick won't be playing football again (there goes the fantasy team) and people will shun him everywhere he goes...ain't tht enough?
Also, drugs dont come into this cause dog fignting has nothing to do with harming ones self and addiction, which is the reason for drug laws.
I know ive said alot tonight already, but awesome site by the way and love the show on wnhu. Keep it up fellas.
Rich,
N. Branford CT
Yeah let me clarify Carl makes a good point.. that I just disagree with. But even if you take out the animal abuse he needs to go to jail. He was running illegal gambling ring which comes under federal racketeering laws. Listen Vick has screwed up every which way so there is no reason why this piece of dirt should continue to walk or streets or play football. Now as far as the gov. goes everyone knows i am the king of wanting them off our backs. But I think in some cases the law is the law. If its on the books its up t us as a people to take it to the courts. If you think animals are property and thus cruelty laws are unconstitutional then file the case till then people like Vick deserve to go to jail under the current law.
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