Post by Alchaea on Jan 31, 2014 2:52:12 GMT -5
Transcript:
Susan: Welcome back to Politibate. As always, I'm your host, Susan Reynolds, and our next topic is superhuman registration. Lately there has been a small but vocal group in the House of Representatives, led by Representative Danforth, trying to drum up support for a law that would force those of us who were either born with or have developed abilities far-surpassing that of the normal human to register their identities with the federal government. So far it hasn't garnered much of any support at all, but here to debate the merits of such a law are Alexander Lehman and Elizabeth Morgan. Alex, Liz, welcome.
Alex: Thank you, Susan.
Elizabeth: Glad to be here.
Susan: First off, why isn't this gaining any moment even in the House? Representative Danforth has been a real rockstar lately, but this seems to have dropped dead on arrival.
Alex: Well, I think it's obviously died because the public opinion on superheroes is relatively positive. As it should be: Heroes and heroines like Maching Bird and Jason Hartman have done an excellent job keeping New Haven safe. And if Maching Bird doesn't want her identity revealed, can't we at least give her that? She doesn't ask for anything else in return.
Elizabeth: I agree, public opinion is high right now, but I disagree on their effectiveness. I think eventually the idea of registration will, in fact, make waves someday when they realize just how bad a job these so-called heroes are doing.
Alex: What are you talking about? How many criminals have Maching Bird and Jason put away?
Elizabeth: I have no idea, but I can tell you how many superpowered terrorists got away with stabbing a governor this week. Isn't one enough to get the ball rolling on this?
Susan: To be fair, Liz, Maching Bird was seen catching a bystander-
Elizabeth: And what about this new 'hero' in Delmont? Guy runs around with super strength and an ant costume. Turns up to an armed robbery and turns it into a murder.
Alex: He was seen fighting the demon who murdered the robber!
Elizabeth: That just happened to appear where he made his own first appearance? And then he was seen with demons again in bank surveillance footage. Half a dozen dead people. He walked away without catching anyone.
Susan: Let's focus on New Haven. The incident with the terrorist: Two heroes showed up of their own accord to defend the governor and the public. Who knows how much worse it would have been if they hadn't?
Elizabeth: And we haven't seen anything out of either of them since. We haven't even seen the criminal behind bars: How does a so-called superhero let a terrorist escape ON NATIONAL TV!?
Alex: How many lives did they save? Even the governor seems in good health and spirits, despite the gruesome-looking stab wound.
Elizabeth: You're right. They got lucky. But they won't be lucky forever. And when it their luck goes sour, will they still be the apple of everyone's eye?
Susan: I think we're quickly getting off topic here. Let's take a short commercial break before talking about the potential law's constitutionality.
Susan: Welcome back to Politibate. As always, I'm your host, Susan Reynolds, and our next topic is superhuman registration. Lately there has been a small but vocal group in the House of Representatives, led by Representative Danforth, trying to drum up support for a law that would force those of us who were either born with or have developed abilities far-surpassing that of the normal human to register their identities with the federal government. So far it hasn't garnered much of any support at all, but here to debate the merits of such a law are Alexander Lehman and Elizabeth Morgan. Alex, Liz, welcome.
Alex: Thank you, Susan.
Elizabeth: Glad to be here.
Susan: First off, why isn't this gaining any moment even in the House? Representative Danforth has been a real rockstar lately, but this seems to have dropped dead on arrival.
Alex: Well, I think it's obviously died because the public opinion on superheroes is relatively positive. As it should be: Heroes and heroines like Maching Bird and Jason Hartman have done an excellent job keeping New Haven safe. And if Maching Bird doesn't want her identity revealed, can't we at least give her that? She doesn't ask for anything else in return.
Elizabeth: I agree, public opinion is high right now, but I disagree on their effectiveness. I think eventually the idea of registration will, in fact, make waves someday when they realize just how bad a job these so-called heroes are doing.
Alex: What are you talking about? How many criminals have Maching Bird and Jason put away?
Elizabeth: I have no idea, but I can tell you how many superpowered terrorists got away with stabbing a governor this week. Isn't one enough to get the ball rolling on this?
Susan: To be fair, Liz, Maching Bird was seen catching a bystander-
Elizabeth: And what about this new 'hero' in Delmont? Guy runs around with super strength and an ant costume. Turns up to an armed robbery and turns it into a murder.
Alex: He was seen fighting the demon who murdered the robber!
Elizabeth: That just happened to appear where he made his own first appearance? And then he was seen with demons again in bank surveillance footage. Half a dozen dead people. He walked away without catching anyone.
Susan: Let's focus on New Haven. The incident with the terrorist: Two heroes showed up of their own accord to defend the governor and the public. Who knows how much worse it would have been if they hadn't?
Elizabeth: And we haven't seen anything out of either of them since. We haven't even seen the criminal behind bars: How does a so-called superhero let a terrorist escape ON NATIONAL TV!?
Alex: How many lives did they save? Even the governor seems in good health and spirits, despite the gruesome-looking stab wound.
Elizabeth: You're right. They got lucky. But they won't be lucky forever. And when it their luck goes sour, will they still be the apple of everyone's eye?
Susan: I think we're quickly getting off topic here. Let's take a short commercial break before talking about the potential law's constitutionality.