This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
Sadomasochism in Politics: Lessons from a True Story ¶
Published on June 28, 2020, a story in a British book by Dave Trott highlights the complexities of the law in protecting self-expression and freedom. The story revolves around five sadists and five masochists who engaged in consensual acts of pain and pleasure, leading to their arrest and sentencing.
The sadists were sentenced to imprisonment, while the masochists were put on probation. The case raises questions about the law's role in protecting individuals who engage in self-expression and freedom, even if it involves pain and pleasure. This story forms the basis for conflicted musings regarding the Anne Waiguru impeachment case.
Two viewpoints stand out in the Waiguru impeachment case: the 'pain-seeking people' and the 'political sadism' angle. The first angle suggests that Waiguru was elected by the 'pain-seeking' people of Kirinyaga, who should not be denied the 'pleasure' of oppression. The second angle argues that the manipulation of the legal process is irreparably sadistic, taking the 'obviously' unlawful through a constitutional charade.
Ultimately, the law has spoken, and Waiguru has two years and four months to prove to Kirinyaga that they are not a population of masochists. The story serves as a reminder that the law must balance individual freedom with the need to protect society from harm.
