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Isn't it time that we get tough on crime and terrorism? How much more do we have to take? The policy makers in DC live in gated communities or have high levels of security, while the rest of us have to fend for ourselves. If we want a safe society where we ALL can have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness then its time we get serious. If a politician says he's tough on crime then I will vote for him. Of course we need action as well as words. But, at this point, all I hear is crickets!
how can we be tough on crime if the president pardon 48 drug dealers, they always complaining about how many we have in prison, maybe we need to double that amount
Isn't it time that we get tough on crime and terrorism? How much more do we have to take? The policy makers in DC live in gated communities or have high levels of security, while the rest of us have to fend for ourselves. If we want a safe society where we ALL can have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness then its time we get serious. If a politician says he's tough on crime then I will vote for him. Of course we need action as well as words. But, at this point, all I hear is crickets!
First, you're mixing 2 different things that have to be treated differently. Yes, I know, terrorism is a crime. But it's a totally different type of crime.
Someone guilty of terrorism? Lock them up and throw away the key. Terrorism with a death toll? Execute them.
But tough on "crime" is an awfully big category. What fits in your category of "crime"? Have you ever exceeded the speed limit while driving? Littered? Come to a "rolling stop"? Taken a pen from work? Those are all crimes. We better lock you up.
We like to pretend that Americans are the best people on the planet...even though we have almost the highest incarceration rate in the world. Those 2 things together don't work. And not only do we lock more people up than almost any other place in the world, but even after they serve their time, they are punished for the rest of their lives, just pushing them back into crime.
I'm not saying be soft on crime, but I am saying let's examine very carefully our priorities and perspectives on crime.
You know, all those years I was a school principal, I could have suspended, put on detention, and otherwise punished 20 times as many kids for breaking the rules than I did. But the question that always came to the front was -- what a makes a difference, and what doesn't. I had teachers who wanted students expelled for chewing gum. But in reality, chewing gum was irrelevant to education; it was only relevant to keeping your thumb on someone. One mattered, the other was just a question of power.
I'm very anti-drug. I never even smoked pot. But I also don't think -- even though it is (or was) against the law, that someone ought to be in prison or have their lives ruined because they were caught with a joint. Perspective. To what really matters.
America has the largest prison population in the history of the planet. Tough on crime? Maybe putting a fence around the borders and making the U.S. one giant prison will make you happy.
First, you're mixing 2 different things that have to be treated differently. Yes, I know, terrorism is a crime. But it's a totally different type of crime.
Someone guilty of terrorism? Lock them up and throw away the key. Terrorism with a death toll? Execute them.
But tough on "crime" is an awfully big category. What fits in your category of "crime"? Have you ever exceeded the speed limit while driving? Littered? Come to a "rolling stop"? Taken a pen from work? Those are all crimes. We better lock you up.
We like to pretend that Americans are the best people on the planet...even though we have almost the highest incarceration rate in the world. Those 2 things together don't work. And not only do we lock more people up than almost any other place in the world, but even after they serve their time, they are punished for the rest of their lives, just pushing them back into crime.
I'm not saying be soft on crime, but I am saying let's examine very carefully our priorities and perspectives on crime.
Quote:
Originally Posted by phetaroi
You know, all those years I was a school principal, I could have suspended, put on detention, and otherwise punished 20 times as many kids for breaking the rules than I did. But the question that always came to the front was -- what a makes a difference, and what doesn't. I had teachers who wanted students expelled for chewing gum. But in reality, chewing gum was irrelevant to education; it was only relevant to keeping your thumb on someone. One mattered, the other was just a question of power.
I'm very anti-drug. I never even smoked pot. But I also don't think -- even though it is (or was) against the law, that someone ought to be in prison or have their lives ruined because they were caught with a joint. Perspective. To what really matters.
you make some good points, but i have a few observations;
1: people who are convicted of a crime do pay a penalty by law, and then have a hard time fully reintegrating into society. but we must as why they have a hard time. the reality is that they broke the public trust by committing the crimes they did, and as such they have to re-earn that trust, and it is harder the second time around.
2: i agree with you on perspective though, some crimes are quite minor, and should be punished with fines and community service instead of jail time. up to a point. beyond that point then tougher measures should be taken against those that constantly thumb their nose at the system.
you make some good points, but i have a few observations;
1: people who are convicted of a crime do pay a penalty by law, and then have a hard time fully reintegrating into society. but we must as why they have a hard time. the reality is that they broke the public trust by committing the crimes they did, and as such they have to re-earn that trust, and it is harder the second time around.
2: i agree with you on perspective though, some crimes are quite minor, and should be punished with fines and community service instead of jail time. up to a point. beyond that point then tougher measures should be taken against those that constantly thumb their nose at the system.
You don't belong on this forum. Your response is reasonable.
It's a difficult question.
I had a nephew that went to prison in Florida for 2 years. I never knew for what, although I always guessed it was probably something related to drugs. After he got out, he found getting a job almost impossible (he was a cook) if he was honest about being in jail, and if he didn't answer honestly they would always find out and he would lose the job. And yes, I do think it's unfair to make someone virtually unemployable, which may only lead them back into committing a crime. But on the other hand, one day he said, "Life is so unfair." And I looked at him and said, "Shawn, you knew whatever you did was illegal, but you did it anyway. Now you will always pay the price for that. But why should an employer who has many candidates with a clean record hire a person like you who CHOSE not to keep your nose clean?"
I agree with you. I have no sympathy for repeat offenders, providing that the punishment fits the crime.
I look at a street we have here in Colorado Springs that long ago was the main route through town, so there are a lot of old, dilapidated motels there. Everyone knows a lot of the people who rent there by the week or month are ex-cons or sex offenders. But it seems that they are now forever trapped. I don't know what the solution is, but what we do now doesn't work.
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