Debate : 21719


Off-Topic / Debate / 21719	21718 \| 21720

Subject:	Re: Tony Martin case: You can't {make up} better criticism of Liberals!
Newsgroups:	lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date:	Sun, 27 Jul 2003 15:04:41 GMT
Viewed:	721 times

In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal wrote:

In lugnet.off-topic.debate, David Koudys wrote:

How about having the police services *deter* people from committing crimes in the first place.

Basically what you are arguing for is an increase in law enforcement personnel, which is fine (although adding to the tax burden), but in the end I don’t think it will decrease the crime rate that much, although significantly drive pastry sales;-)

The problem IMO is that punishments don’t fit the crimes. Criminals do not fear retribution from the system if they are caught. Our prisons are cushy affairs, complete with 3 squares, healthcare, exercise facilities, cable, internet access, etc. While creating such environments is humane, it ends up hurting the overall effect of deterrance. The only saving effect of prison is the physical removal of the criminal from society, but even that is compromised by the parole system. We live in a free society, but a free society can only function properly if its citizens respect each other’s rights. And many citizens (the immoral ones, that is) won’t respect rights unless they truly fear the consequences of not doing so.

So, I boil it down to morality. How can a free society function without morality, and how does a society raise its children to become moral citizens?

JOHN

I would agree that prison is now more of a “resort”, and less of a deterrent to criminals and crime. I am certain that many people who are not criminals, but good, hardworking people, DO NOT have health care, exercise equipment or access to it, internet, or cable TV. And from that, I would assume that they are making less money per year than it costs to house a criminal in prison. Just by a little research, in at least one U.S. state, it costs 41,000 dollars to house a criminal per year. Now, you tell me if you think that is fair. Maybe getting rid of the amenities in prisons would be a good idea.

Max

Message has 1 Reply:

		Re: Tony Martin case: You can't {make up} better criticism of Liberals!
This is more of the usual right-wing idiocy. Beat down the victims of right-wing callousness. The problem is not incarcerating real criminals, the problem is the creation of crime! We are trying to legislate morality by creating whole categories of (...) (21 years ago, 27-Jul-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)

Message is in Reply To:

		Re: Tony Martin case: You can't {make up} better criticism of Liberals!
(...) Basically what you are arguing for is an increase in law enforcement personnel, which is fine (although adding to the tax burden), but in the end I don't think it will decrease the crime rate that much, although significantly drive pastry (...) (21 years ago, 26-Jul-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)

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