“Zero tolerance.”
It’s one of those refreshingly no-nonsense phrases that appeals to the unequivocating, moral-absolute side in all of us. It’s right or it’s wrong. There’s nothing in between.
The obvious problem: It’s a better slogan than policy. Whether as an anti-crime or anti-bullying edict. That’s because life can be nettlesomely nuanced. “Three strikes and you’re out” is baseball gospel for umpires – but can be sentence manacles for judges.
How about zero tolerance for policies that necessarily promise more than they can fairly deliver?