The rich have it hard. I propose that we give them special privileges to help them with their disability. How about special lines and larger seats on airplanes? And people to park their cars for them when they go to exclusive rich-people restaurants? And to make sure they don't feel disenfranchised, why can't we have our politicians come to their houses so that they can hear their thoughts in person? And perhaps special, high quality schools for their kids, so that despite their affluenza disability, the kids can have a good chance in life? Oh, and it they commit a crime, let's allow them to have special lawyers that can get it thrown out or have the charges drastically reduced. But let's not forget to segregate them from the poors. Affluenza is a real disability and nobody deserves to be insulted by the people they step on each day. It might make them feel bad, at which point they'd have to use their lawyers and politicians to get some justice/payback for themselves.

Won't someone *please* think of the rich?!

How much do you want to bet that the NSA's definition of "amnesty" involves a one-way trip to Gitmo?

I didn't read the byline on this, but I realized that it was Cienna as soon as there was talk of fridge mold.

@ 3 We can only hope

I love how people think Snowden is still leaking stories. He already stopped with the leaks, they're in the hands of journalists now, he has no control of the information.

What's next, the kid can sue the deceased's families for emotional trauma and bullying? JESUS FUUUUUUCK.

@6 The idea might be that Greenwald & colleagues would forgo publishing more for Snowden's sake, if a deal was in the works. However, I wouldn't trust a deal with the NSA *at all*.

The "affluenza defense" is so depraved, heartless, stupid, and morally wrong, that only a lawyer could have come up with it, and only a rich white person could benefit from it.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10…

German Union to Protest at Amazon's Seattle Headquarters

By SARAH SLOAT
Dec. 16, 2013 12:25 p.m. ET

At the height of holiday shopping season, Amazon employees in Germany said they would continue strikes at local logistics centers this week and stage a protest action on the online retailer's doorstep in Seattle on Monday to highlight their grievances...

@1 That would never work. It will remain a crazy dream, like single-payer health care in non-Communist countries.

I really loathe these earthquake stories. For example:

According to one scenario, a magnitude 6.7 quake on the Seattle Fault could kill 1,600 people and cause $33 billion in damage

1,600 deaths from a 6.7? Fuck off. That's the worst possible scenario, like if the quake hit at rush hour after a Seahawks game. In real life, you might see death rates at 10 percent that number.

@9. You have the makings of a sweet Tweet. I suggest this (126 characters):

"The "affluenza defense" is so depraved only a lawyer could make it up and only a rich White person could benefit from it."

Had the Harvard explosives gone off—I keep imagining grieving parents slipping in a roundabout brag about where their child was killed. "You know he lost his life in Boston. Well, not in Boston but nearby..." because I'm a terrible person.

@13: Tell us more about Diane Sawyer's pointy nipples.

@12 is wrong - tens of thousands dead

I don't get the rich kid story. Okay if his parents are lazy-ass idiots. Okay if they hire a smart lawyer. But WHY did the judge not say, "This ends here and I WILL be the one to hold him accountable."

@19 its Texas.

Aside from being immoral the affluenza thing isn't even logical. "Let's rectify the fact that money kept him from learning the consequences of bad behavior by letting money shield him from the consequences of bad behavior."

I don't understand why "affluenza" is a defense and not the case for the prosecution.