avatarLeo Guinan

Summary

The author advocates for President Biden to pardon Donald Trump as a means to foster societal forgiveness, address systemic issues, and exemplify strong leadership.

Abstract

The article argues that President Biden's first act should be to pardon Donald Trump, framing it as a bold and forgiving move that would set a precedent for a society that values learning from mistakes over punishment. The author suggests that Trump's actions, although problematic, were a symptom of a larger economic and societal dysfunction that prioritizes wealth over well-being. By pardoning Trump, the author believes it would acknowledge the collective responsibility in creating an environment that enabled Trump's behavior, while also highlighting the inefficiency of punishment as a deterrent. The article emphasizes the importance of addressing the system's weaknesses that Trump exploited and proposes that true leadership involves forgiveness and the ability to envision a better future.

Opinions

  • Punishment is not an effective teacher and other methods are more efficient, according to scientific evidence.
  • Trump's actions were driven by the pursuit of money, reflecting a societal value misalignment where success is equated with wealth.
  • Trump is seen as a symptom of a broken economy rather than the sole cause of the issues during his presidency.
  • The author suggests that society shares responsibility for Trump's failures due to its prioritization of money over people.
  • Honesty should be a condition for pardoning, with a particular emphasis on not withholding critical information.
  • Trump's ability to exploit systemic loopholes for personal gain underscores the need for reform to prevent future exploitation.
  • Forgiveness is posited as the first step towards a brighter future, with a pardon for Trump symbolizing a significant act of societal healing.
  • The best leaders are those who understand that mistakes are part of progress and are willing to forgive, suggesting Biden could embody this ideal through a pardon.

Why I think Biden’s First Act as President should be to Pardon Trump

It is the Ultimate Boss Move

Photo by Felix Koutchinski on Unsplash

We have spent a long time in fear. Much too long. It is time to release our fear.

Punishment is Inefficient

We punish people for their mistakes. We are afraid of them repeating their mistakes. Punishment is not an efficient teacher though. It works, but other things work better. We know this because of science.

His Actions Were Not His Alone

Trump did what he did to make money. This makes sense. We have programmed people for decades to believe that money and success were equal. They are not, and truly happy people know this.

He is simply a symptom of a broken economy. He thought he could fix things. He took a shot. He missed. I am championing a society that forgives. It is only through mistakes that we can learn.

I liken him to a hacker that figures out a weak point in the system and exploits it. He did it for money because money buys freedom. I think he even views money the same way I do. Debt is stupid and shouldn’t be paid. Saving is stupid because you can always get more money.

The Missing Piece

He lost sight of something though. Sometimes, we owe debts to people. These debts can make the difference between people eating and not. These actions affect peoples’ lives. We have to be mindful of our actions and how they affect other people.

Trump has a hard time doing that with people he is close to. There was never any hope that he would be able to successfully feel the collective emotions of a nation and lead them into prosperity. That just isn’t the way he works.

I can’t blame him though. He has been built by a society that favors money over people. We are as much at fault for his failures as he is. That is why I favor pardons for everyone involved in the administration.

Reasons Against Pardoning

Unless they withhold information. That is where danger lies. The game is easy to win when you can see all the pieces. It is much more difficult when you can’t. Just be honest and go free with your profits.

Fixing the Loopholes

I think Donald Trump served a very important purpose. He showed us the weaknesses in our system. He earned his money. He figured out all the loopholes. When you see it, you do have to appreciate it. He knows how to make money. He just doesn’t know how to do it without wreaking lives.

Because of his example, I think I have figured out how to fix the flaws in the system that produced him. I can’t change the past but I can fix the future. Let me help you see the future that I am designing and start designing your own. The brightest future starts with forgiveness. A big show of forgiveness is what this world needs right now.

Be the Best Boss

The best bosses in the world forgive mistakes. They understand that mistakes mean progress. Success is boring. Mistakes mean you are trying to do something different. Biden should be the ultimate boss.

Biden should forgive.

Signed,

Someone who may have punched you if you told me this 4 months ago.

Politics
Forgiveness
Leadership
Management
Society
Recommended from ReadMedium
avatarJennifer Hartmann
The Question That Ended My Marriage

In a rare moment of vulnerability, I asked my husband this question, and knew I’d just empowered us to divorce.

6 min read
avatarMichelle Teheux
We Could Learn a Lot About Sex From the Dutch

My Dutch relative’s views shocked me, but I immediately realized she was right

6 min read
avatarSamanta Writes
12 Signs of a Highly Unintelligent Person According to Science

3. Nodding Your Head

5 min read
avatarDevon Price
Laziness Does Not Exist

Psychological research is clear: when people procrastinate, there's usually a good reason

11 min read
avatarBrian S. Hook
How I Lost My Job As A Tenured Professor

Where Does An Expert In A Dying Field Go Next?

7 min read
avatarTessa Schlesinger Global Atheist Am Yisrael Chai.
How Do You Recognize Someone Truly Intelligent?

There is only one characteristic that separates them from others.

8 min read