Biden Pardons Two Birds

Following a tradition normalized in the 1980s, Biden also pardoned the turkeys Liberty and Bell yesterday, marking the unofficial start of the holiday season. The birds will move to the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences where they will become educational ambassadors for a state where turkey production provides more than $1 billion in economic activity and more than 26,000 jobs.

I wish someone would end this asinine process. What exactly is the point of "pardoning" a turkey? The usual process is to have these cutesy names, make some jokes, politick some, and so on. 

West Wing tells us presidents do not have the power to pardon fowl. Well, maybe if they commit some federal crime. The president also might be given the power by statute to do so. He can also pardon a bird (in a non-criminal sense) while carrying out his presidential powers. He is basically given the power to do this by whatever process is in place here.

Local politicians are giving out turkeys around my way. One referenced also giving way produce. Last year, Twitter provided better access to the people I followed. This included a local account that let me know when they were handing out free produce (fruit, vegetables, beans, etc.). My feed is much less helpful. I might have missed one of these hand-outs.

Not everyone eats turkey. I am a vegetarian who tries to be as much of a vegan as I can. I have been so since the mid-1990s. You don't have to be one to find this pardon business silly. It's hard to end these traditions. So, we are going to continue to have them. And, have people complain.

One lay-up is that criminal justice advocates sneer at the limited use of the pardon power for actual humans. One blog, some strongly conservative sort (rabidly so at times) agreed. Our criminal justice system is very troubling. There have been some mild efforts to address the problems. Some bipartisan action has been done there nationwide. Rachel Barkow and Emily Bazelon are two people who have written books on this topic.

I clearly agree. Congress could help by establishing some guidelines, including a special pardon administrator who selects people from a range of places to help them. The president (or members of the Justice Department) can independently do so. There has not been a recent drive to do so. It's a shame. Again, inertia helps here as does fear of crime. Still, there are enough bipartisan forces available for there to be some movement here. 

Thanksgiving can also be designated as a special time to announce many pardons. Actual pardons, not just of turkeys. People can return to their families. People already out can have their records made clean. It would be an appropriate way to celebrate the holiday.  

A final concern would be all those involved in the Thanksgiving season. We can have special concerns for agricultural workers and animals raised. The retailers who sell the food and supplies. The workers there. The mothers and family members as a whole who make the dinners. Some (like me) will join some members of their family to eat outside the home.

I am already seeing Christmas trees (at the store) and displays. Let's focus on that after Thanksgiving. And, let's honor the season the best we can. Or in the words of President Biden:

I encourage the people of the United States of America to join together and give thanks for the friends, neighbors, family members, and strangers who have supported each other over the past year in a reflection of goodwill and unity.

Happy Holidays.