Rep. Lance Gooden has introduced legislation that would allow U.S. citizens to seize the yachts, jets, and other property belonging to Russian oligarchs who have been sanctioned in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
Privateering is essentially legal piracy. In the age of sail, it was common for nations to issue letters of marque licensing private citizens to raid the shipping of enemy nations. The practice died down in the 19th Century with the Paris Declaration of 1856 outlawing privateers. However, the United States never signed the Paris Declaration, and Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to issue letters of marque. [...]
"Privateers in history are for when you don't have enough forces," Singer told the Signal via email. "Today, the U.S. Navy has no problem finding or seizing these yachts if it so wanted." Indeed, privateers seem even more unnecessary when the navies and coast guards of the various allied countries that have joined the United States in sanctioning Russia.
Furthermore, privateers are typically reserved for war, and setting them loose on Russian oligarchs could spark a broader conflict between the United States and Russia. "While Ukraine is at war with Russia, we are not."
Previously, previously, previously, previously, previously, previously.
Well, I've already got a full pirate kit, so point me at some sweet Russian assets here in Seattle and let me at 'em.
You wouldn't download a yacht
I understood that reference.gif
What happened to the sacrosanctity of private property?
Option a - use seizure/denial of proceeds of crime by a rogue nuclear superpower and its cronies as a deterrent to random wars in Europe.
Option b - let a rogue nuclear superpower continue its rampage across Europe unimpeded and hope for the best, because that approach has gone well so far.
Counter-sarcasm;
I'm sure any legislation won't be misused in future/immediately.
Counter-counter-sarcasm;
You don't bring an army to an insane sociopath nuke party.
(c) listen to what they have been saying all along and don't escalate this into a desperation-driven nuclear war.
I found this talk illuminating in a distressing sort of way: https://youtu.be/JrMiSQAGOS4
That said, I was being sarcastic about private property.
The New New Thing
Michael Lewis
p. 90
Curious how Disneyland is going to work this into Pirates of the Caribbean.
Pirates of the Crimean.
When the Canadian ambassador was asked for comment, she replied, "OH THE YEAR WAS SEVENTEEN SEVENTY-EIGHT".
I was trying to think of an excuse to link to that tune, thanks for being braver than me.
I started a filk but rapidly abandoned it. Someone should certainly write "Biden's Privateers" though.
Does this mean we get to seize Lance Gooden if it passes?
I assume he's an asset of a Russian oligarch.
I think we’re due for a “superyacht” tag.
Maybe. Or maybe a "klept" tag for all the Hot Billionaire Probs.
I think the overlap between a "klept" tag and the existing "corporations" tag would probably be 100%.
While I realize they're the same people, one is the pursuit of happiness by making a shit ton of money, and the other is the pursuit of happiness by spending a shit ton of money.