# Alaskan "R" politician: "There are upside to child abuse deaths." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 23, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265 "2023-02-23T23:16:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/1 "2023-02-23T23:16:49Z")
When I heard about this, I was hoping, and not optimistically, that this was a statement taken out of context. Nope, it wasn’t. The Young Turks tagged him as “anti-life GOP.” I agree. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/e5M-LFF5DCU/maxresdefault.jpg "Republican: "There Are Upsides To Child Abuse Deaths"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5M-LFF5DCU) Here’s another link. > **[Alaska legislator argued child abuse deaths are a ‘benefit to society’](https://www.today.com/parents/family/alaska-legislator-child-abuse-deaths-benefit-society-rcna71978)** > > The Alaska House of Representatives censured Republican Rep. David Eastman after he argued fatal child abuse is a financial "benefit to society." For 9 1/2 years after Sandy Hook, I said that were something like that to happen in certain areas that are poverty-stricken and mostly non-white (which would include Alaska Natives), it would disappear from the news faster that the story about the UFO over O’Hare Airport, and mostly be discussed on racist blogs, and hoped I would never find out if I was right or wrong. Since Uvalde, I haven’t had the desire to check some out and see if I was correct; the “real world” is terrible enough. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.E](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.e/32/8932_2.png) [@Mr.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.E)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/2 "2023-02-23T23:24:13Z")
The justification he gave is this was an attempt to show the inhumanity of similar arguments regarding abortion. The problem is, I don’t think “Consider the financial benefits of abortion” is actually a common argument among pro-choice activists, who prefer simpler arguments like “It’s none of your goddamn business what women do with their bodies.” Anyway, it’s incredibly stupid to try and twist up an anti-abortion argument during a hearing about child abuse regardless of his intentions. Either he isn’t taking his job very seriously and is focusing on one specific issue to the detriment of everything else, or he was genuinely asking if dead abused children are cheaper than live abused children. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/3 "2023-02-23T23:37:42Z")
He’s from Wasilla, which tells you a lot about him from the get-go. He’s also a member of The Proud Boys. An attempt to invalidate his election was made on that basis, but the courts sided with Eastman. Other legislators are afraid to say anything bad about him because they get instant hate mail and threats from the loony right wing nuts. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/4 "2023-02-23T23:53:29Z")
I’m fascinated by the question of what accounts for this level of craziness. It’s certainly not climate or geography, because when you move north across the border between the 48 contiguous states and into Canada, you perceive a welcome level of relative sanity. But then when you cross the border into Alaska, there’s a whole new level of crazy that is perhaps even greater than Florida level. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/5 "2023-02-24T00:52:32Z")
The good news is that he’s been unanimously\* censured by the legislature. (\*More or less. He’s the only one who voted no.) The bad news is he should have been expelled and banned for life from ever holding public office again. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/6 "2023-02-24T01:10:44Z")
Isn’t this the same clown that asserted Native Alaskan women get pregnant on purpose to (a) get a free ride to the city for an abortion, and (b) get a free ride from the government for all the children they have, and (c) said it’s not his opinion, it’s what “people have told him”? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/7 "2023-02-24T01:19:54Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > He’s also a member of The Proud Boys. Every single time I hear the term “Proud Boys” I get the mental image of a Village People cover band. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/8 "2023-02-24T01:23:43Z")
Out, loud, and proud, are they? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/9 "2023-02-24T01:42:28Z")
I don’t know what they’re so proud about but they are certainly loud and throw it all out for everyone to see, heedless of legal consequences. All I can think of when I see these fascist fruitcakes marching around with their floral print shirts and tiki torches is how much Wal-Mart has really disturbed the social fabric with its influx of cheap shitty goods. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/10 "2023-02-24T02:13:53Z")
Y’allqueda’s Pier One. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/11 "2023-02-24T02:14:43Z")
Since you mentioned that, if you’re wondering if he was “there” on January 6th, the answer is yes. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/12 "2023-02-24T02:18:13Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > The good news is that he’s been unanimously\* censured by the legislature. (\*More or less. He’s the only one who voted no.) The bad news is he should have been expelled and banned for life from ever holding public office again. I suggest he go censure himself. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/13 "2023-02-24T02:22:39Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > I suggest he go censure himself. I think he has to be in close proximity to a woman though, according to Proud Boy rules. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/14 "2023-02-24T07:50:12Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Every single time I hear the term “Proud Boys” I get the mental image of a Village People cover band. Want to switch over to _Goodfellas_? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/15 "2023-02-24T08:07:58Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Out, loud, and proud, are they? I personally correct it to Loud Boys whenever I see the name, along with Oathbreakers for those other yahoos. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/16 "2023-02-24T13:41:42Z")
In defense of my home state, it wasn’t always like that. Big Oil ruined the place, IMO. While oil money created jobs and provided a big influx of money for the Native villages, it also attracted the usual trash that accompanies a boom economy. Over the decades, they became a permanent part of the state’s population and spread their poison everywhere. And while there are still a lot of good people there, assholes like this guy get themselves elected. In fact, there is a bit of a perfect storm at the moment of the Anchorage mayor and Alaska’s governor, both of whom should be driven from office with cattle prods. Especially the mayor, who is constantly in the news for some scandal or another. The Anchorage city council has had to close meetings to the public because of the disruption by right wing nutsos. I’m actually glad I don’t live there any longer, although I do miss the place itself. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/17 "2023-02-24T13:45:11Z")
I’ve never been to Alaska but from what I’ve seen in pictures, it’s a place of great natural beauty. Too bad it’s been both literally and figuratively polluted by assholes. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/18 "2023-02-24T13:45:14Z")
Holy shit. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/19 "2023-02-24T15:01:44Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > both of whom should be driven from office with cattle prods. Thank you for the mental image! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2023, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265/20 "2023-02-24T16:07:28Z")
The mayor of Anchorage is a retired military officer, which in no way qualifies him for governance. He can’t even be bothered to find out what the policies, procedures and laws require of him to perform certain actions. He’s taking a lot of heat for awarding no-bid contracts, hiring people without background checks or Assembly approval, etc. His staff have been resigning in droves before the whole thing collapses on top of them, and the city has been sued by employees who are claiming everything from sexual harassment to malfeasance. The governor rammed through a huge Permanent Fund Dividend payout of some $3800 per person in order to buy himself the next election. At least the legislature was able to get up the gumption to censure Eastman, and he holds no seats on any committees. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alaskan-r-politician-there-are-upside-to-child-abuse-deaths/980265.md?page=2)