Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Cruel but usual punishment.
We Americans have a cruel society. We like to treat people badly. Especially people we consider to be bad. As if there's no such thing as redemption. I stumbled across an amazing statistic the other day. Prison sentences in the USA are eight times longer than those handed out in Europe. Really, that doesn't surprise me. We Americans believe in punishment. In not letting anyone off easy. In a recent talk, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy mentioned that California has 185,000 people in prison at a cost of $32,500 each per year. He urged voters and elected officials to compare spending on prisons with spending on elementary education. Well, I'm sure of one thing. We don't spend $32,500 per year on a school kid. Not even close. Gives one pause. About our nation's priorities. Anyway, California has been ordered to bring down its prison population. Because the prisons are badly overcrowded. And little wonder. California has a three-strikes law. Which means that on a third offense, even a minor one, you go to prison for a long, long time. Gary Ewing was sentenced to 25 years to life for shoplifting three golf clubs. I rest my case. That's cruel but usual punishment in America. --Jim Broede
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Good thing you are not trying to be a lawyer. Gary Ewing committed "FELONY GRAND THEFT"-no "minor" offense. Ewing has a long and serious criminal history. He has committed numerous felonies, and served nine separate prison terms. Most of his crimes, as was this one, were committed while on parole, including robbery and residential burglary.
" Recidivism has long been recognized as a legitimate basis for increased punishment and is a serious public safety concern in California and the Nation."
"State legislatures enacting three strikes laws made a deliberate policy choice that individuals who have repeatedly engaged in serious or violent criminal behavior, and whose conduct has not been deterred by more conventional punishment approaches, must be isolated from society to protect the public safety."
-The Supreme Court-
Please note that the California three strikes law, states that a defendant who is convicted of a felony and has previously been convicted of two or more serious or violent felonies must receive an indeterminate life imprisonment term. Ewing had four felony convictions.
There is also a discretionary insertion that allows the court to class "wobblers"(certain offenses) as either misdemeanors or felonie, and/or dismiss allegation of some or all of his prior relevant convictions.
Doesn't seem so cruel to me. Goes back to that childhood slogan: "If you don't want to do the time, don't do the crime". Ewing is luck he does not live in a society that would simply lob off his hands.
Last note: school kids certainly do not need $32,500 per year, to be educated. If that is what it takes to keep convicted criminals off the streets, and away from my family, so be it.
They might not lop off his hands. But they won't hesitate to lop off his dignity. --Jim
They'll also lop off his human rights. --Jim
Also, recidivism rates are much lower in Europe. Even with significantly shorter sentences. --Jim
In America, we even have executed innocent people. Figuring, what the heck. It's only relatively few. --Jim
Interesting thing about crime. Is an examination of the root causes of much of it. People in poverty. People being denied basic human rights. Or inadequate education. Discrimination. I tend to look at the issue from a rather liberal perspective. Rather than a conservative one. I tend to blame the structure of society. --Jim
I look at capital punishment as a moral issue. It's immoral. I'm with the pope on this one. Albeit, I'm not Catholic. Or a Christian. Somewhere, we have to draw a line on killing. As a society, we too easily justify killing. I even have qualms about killing animals for food. And I'm certainly opposed to killing animals for sport. For the trophy room. --Jim
I like the concept of turning the other cheek. I might do it once or twice. But eventually I'd reach the point of POW!! I'd haul off and hit back. POW!! POW!! POW!! --Jim
So, you have your very own "three strikes" law. Interesting. There ARE limits, I see, as there should be, in any civilized society.
" People in poverty. People being denied basic human rights. Or inadequate education. Discrimination. I tend to look at the issue from a rather liberal perspective. Rather than a conservative one. I tend to blame the structure of society. --Jim"
That is hogwash. The structure of society is not to blame; it is the structure of family that is to blame. There are millions of people who suffer all the things you mention, yet wouldn't think to commit a crime. Why? Why aren't these people applying for welfare, Medicaid, etc.? Where are the extended families? Why aren't the families helping them get what they need?
My parent would be considered at the poverty level, yet they have a nice, roomy apartment in a low-income community(Social Security income), food to eat(state commodities), access to medical care(medicaid/medicare). They are happy living there, healthy, and needs are being met. They have many friends and neighbors in the same situation.
What you describe is "Absolute Poverty", and the U.s. ranks 10th among 16 developed nations.
I see us as one big family. The family of mankind. My brothers and my sisters are everyone. Even you. I think in those terms. Not merely the Broede family. I have a much bigger family than that. The entire world is my family. I suspect my family even includes other civiliations beyond Earth. On other planets. On billions of planets. We all need to work for the common good. Of everyone. Of everything. --Jim
...and what do you do for your family??? Not a thing. THAT's what is wrong here. People like you who talk the talk , but NEVER walk the walk.
...AND what about all the people whose needs ARE being met, by the government(ME) and yet they still rob and rape and murder, and destroy???
I walk the walk every day. I'll bet I outwalk you. --Jim
Be more positive. Relatively few rob, rape and murder. And they are dealt with, aren't they? --Jim
Meanwhile, the big corporations are robbing us blind. The likes of Enron. The bankers, too. --Jim
so typical...you get proven wrong, and change the subject
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