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It is way too late for such a dramatic shift, imho.
Singapore is like "Broken Windows" policy on Espresso. ( not crack, because that is illegal! )
I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to see that it would end up being blasted for disproportionately affecting minorities and immediately pulled back,..lol. Heck, our current laws already get scorned for that.
Singapore's laws fit its unique situation, and don't necessarily fit a vast country of 50 semi-independent states like the USA. Singapore is a city state, densely populated with most residents in large multi-story apartment / condo dwellings and very tropical temperatures year-round. I mention the tropical part, because many of their laws have to do with maintaining sanitary conditions to avoid spread of disease (a big concern in dense tropical places). This is the reason for the fines for spitting or for using chewing gum - there is no discarded chewing gum stuck on the sidewalk or streets that could hold germs.
If you haven't visited Singapore, it is hard to understand all of the reasoning behind the laws. Singapore is a free country where citizens can come and go as they please, so yes, they have a choice in the matter.
It is pleasant to walk around in Singapore after dark without a worry in the world about your personal safety or if you are in a safe neighborhood. You see men and women of all ages walking after dark, as it is more pleasant that walking around in the heat of the day. You also see boys and girls, some of them pre-teens, walking in the dark alone or with some friends, often going from one location to another in their neighborhood. People are simply not worried about their kids being harmed by a stranger.
Your last paragraph pretty much describes growing up in the 40’s and 50’s in my little town in Alabama. I haven’t lived there in many years and I’m sure it has changed for the worse.
It is way too late for such a dramatic shift, imho.
Singapore is like "Broken Windows" policy on Espresso. ( not crack, because that is illegal! )
I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to see that it would end up being blasted for disproportionately affecting minorities and immediately pulled back,..lol. Heck, our current laws already get scorned for that.
I hate that I'm even thinking this but since the petty and short of murder criminals can't be fined as they don't really have any money and we can't jail them all and jail isn't much of a deterant anyway perhaps a good caning would have an impact.
I am an admitted hawk when it comes to justice, jail, and all things punishment. My reticence on harsh punishment is based on the politics and sloppy police action which sometimes railroads accused criminals into guilty pleas/convictions when they are actually innocent.
That aside, and it is major aside, punishment should be harsh.
If you are convicted and go to jail, it should be awful. Three hots and a cot. No TV or exercise yards or rehabilitation. You should assume that you will more than likely die in jail if your sentence is more than a few months. Minimal medical care, no socialization, no education, complete isolation. Punishment should fit the crime. Shoplifting? Fingers of hands off. Murder? Death sentence by hanging or gunfire. The punishment should NOT be something where "life just goes on". "Better than living in a cold flat" sort of thing. Jail/punishment should be FEARED. People/criminal should be SCARED of going to jail or otherwise being punished.
Society would be better for it. The time to stop being "nice" to criminals is long since passed.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Bear
I am an admitted hawk when it comes to justice, jail, and all things punishment. My reticence on harsh punishment is based on the politics and sloppy police action which sometimes railroads accused criminals into guilty pleas/convictions when they are actually innocent.
That aside, and it is major aside, punishment should be harsh.
If you are convicted and go to jail, it should be awful. Three hots and a cot. No TV or exercise yards or rehabilitation. You should assume that you will more than likely die in jail if your sentence is more than a few months. Minimal medical care, no socialization, no education, complete isolation. Punishment should fit the crime. Shoplifting? Fingers of hands off. Murder? Death sentence by hanging or gunfire. The punishment should NOT be something where "life just goes on". "Better than living in a cold flat" sort of thing. Jail/punishment should be FEARED. People/criminal should be SCARED of going to jail or otherwise being punished.
Society would be better for it. The time to stop being "nice" to criminals is long since passed.
Punishment doesn't have to be harsh; it just has to be sure.
If you know - for a fact - that if you park somewhere you're going to get a $50 ticket, few people will park there, and only those who are so desperate to park they're willing to pay 50 bucks.
I am an admitted hawk when it comes to justice, jail, and all things punishment. My reticence on harsh punishment is based on the politics and sloppy police action which sometimes railroads accused criminals into guilty pleas/convictions when they are actually innocent.
That aside, and it is major aside, punishment should be harsh.
If you are convicted and go to jail, it should be awful. Three hots and a cot. No TV or exercise yards or rehabilitation. You should assume that you will more than likely die in jail if your sentence is more than a few months. Minimal medical care, no socialization, no education, complete isolation. Punishment should fit the crime. Shoplifting? Fingers of hands off. Murder? Death sentence by hanging or gunfire. The punishment should NOT be something where "life just goes on". "Better than living in a cold flat" sort of thing. Jail/punishment should be FEARED. People/criminal should be SCARED of going to jail or otherwise being punished.
Society would be better for it. The time to stop being "nice" to criminals is long since passed.
The problem is that what you are saying is completely barbaric and medieval. Aside from that these people if they are released are going to come out worse. If we are going to completely disregard human rights and dignity why not just have only one punishment? All offenses are punished by death even for a first offense.
People seem to be u able to make the distinction between punishment and revenge at times.
Even places like Singapore although have harsh prison conditions, have to offer a way back into society when you are finished. I don't know the exact particulars but they don't let you out with no plan. You probably get assigned some meaningless job and some government cube to live in.
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