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It also doesn't really matter who started it or the level that it occurs. This isn't two people taking potshots at each other, so much of the corruption in this sense is just stealing from the American people.
It's seeing someone take candy from an innocent baby and going "I should steal candy from babies too". The vengeance narrative is not a good defense, but it's the only thing that even slightly appears acceptable because stealing from a baby (or from American taxpayers) is obviously wrong.
If the Dems are doing corrupt government settlements or committing fraud, and stealing from babies they should be stopped, not joined. The same way if you see a burgler breaking into someone's house, if you jump in and start looting homes too, you're not actually better.
That framing does not work. "Stealing candy from a baby" is a meme because the baby is a) helpless, b) doesn't have anything worth stealing but you're doing it anyway. As a result from b), you're likely doing it for a stupid ego reason rather than some strategic gain. Here, the baby is not helpless, is the richest collective entity on earth, and the Democrats (and now Republicans) have been appropriating that money to fund their political ambitions.
So, no, not at all like your analogy.
So if the baby could fight back even a little and had a few dollars in his hand, it's ok? No, theft is wrong.
Sure, Americans are one of the wealthiest groups on the planet and they're looking to fight back (vote against Trump and the Republicans in the midterm and 2028) according to prediction markets right now. That doesn't morally justify looting the public coffers even more.
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