Prison Crusade

In an article by Christopher Hayes that appeared in the April 15, 2009 edition of The Nation, we are told of efforts by Senator James Webb of Virginia to bring reform to existing criminal justice policy through a bill he introduced in the Senate called the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009. The senator noted, in a tour of the Bragg Hill Family Life Center, which provides social services to ex-offenders in Fredericksburg, Virginia, that the United States has “5% of the world’s population and 25% of the people in prison.” He particularly scoffed at the widespread imprisonment of non-violent drug offenders, saying “I saw more drug use at Georgetown University Law Center when I was a student there than I’ve seen anywhere else in my life … and some of those people are judges.”

While I agree with what the senator is trying to accomplish, I disagree with one of the author’s major contentions. The fact that a politician, who in the past consistently sided with the right in social policy, is now calling for reform, does not necessarily signal that the culture wars may be drawing to a close. On the contrary, as I understand the article, no one is advocating a change in direction as it relates to violent crimes – murder, rape, robbery, child molestation, etc – but rather taking a common-sense approach to the decriminalization, or at least relaxation of laws pertaining to certain non-violent, drug offences – particularly regarding marijuana. I have actually heard of violent criminals in the state of Kentucky being released early from their sentences in order to make room for the incarceration of non-violent drug offenders!

How do the demonization of marijuana (which I don’t use, condone, or advocate) and its overzealous prosecution affect an average citizen like me? Every year I am routinely monitored by government helicopters (federal, state, or county, I know not) while working in my garden (to assure that I am tending a legal crop, no doubt). In fact, this last summer, I was paid a not-so-friendly visit by three of Menifee county’s finest, who after succinctly announcing that they would hurt my dog if I didn’t chain it up, went on to proclaim that they had seen marijuana from the air growing down by the barn. Naturally, I told them I had nothing to hide, and after an hour of searching, they sheepishly admitted that ragweed, which they did find, often looks like marijuana from the air. So they left me with an overwhelming urge to “vote the rascals out”, come election day, and when I saw the high sheriff, I chided him,” I thought I had my ragweed patch well hid, but your boys found it”. But seriously, does the government’s obsession with this plant justify the incessant surveillance that Kentuckians are subjected to every growing season? Perhaps Senator Webb’s Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 can answer this question.

Tax Cheats

Regarding “Judgment Day for Tax Cheats,” which appeared in the April 15, 2009 edition of “The Nation,” I have one gnawing question. Why am I not surprised that another so-called “statesman”- in this case retired Senator Phil Gramm, from Texas- is engaged in what in truth can only be described as influence peddling (otherwise known as “working”) for a foreign-owned bank specializing in tax evasion for wealthy Americans. In effect, the United States government for whom he once worked, and from whom he draws his very generous pension, he seeks to undermine by training the wealthy in the art of tax evasion.

This points out once again the all too familiar scenario that regardless of one’s political affiliation, conservative or liberal beliefs, etc, too often the true nature of ones “public service” is to accumulate enough political capital to put it on the auction block to the highest bidder-even if it puts you at odds with the government you purportedly represented for a number of years. Apparently there is no higher calling than to feather one’s own nest, even if the load carried by average working Americans is made heavier. This is a despicable way for Senator Gramm to reward the hard working Texans who returned him to office several times over the years, and a slap in the face to all Americans who pay their fair share of taxes.

This is the true gist of this article, not that wealthy people seek out tax loopholes-legal or illegal-but that a senator that I once respected for his intellect and conservative principles proves to be yet another sell-out for a filthy dollar. We also learned from the article that his wife –like a true “bird of a feather”- is also engaged in similar activity, feathering her nest in like manner. This begs another pertinent question- Does the Texas Department of Criminal Justice have an available cell large enough to accommodate both Senator and Mrs. Gramm?

Slashing Social Programs

The article in the New York Times today was about the numerous budget cuts of many social programs and how it has affected some of our most vulnerable. Even though Obama’s stimulus package has helped some, still, groups like the elderly, child welfare, Medicaid, home counseling and others suffer greatly. The interim chief of the Arizona Department of Economic Security has said that these short-term savings will cause long-term effects. I must say that I agree with her whole-heartily. I also know that Arizona is not the only place where people are struggling to get by because it’s felt by people in Kentucky too. It seems that President Obama did mention something in one of his speeches that it was better to take preventive measures concerning medical services and expenses. Well, all of these cuts are certainly not one of those measures. It will cost the government more money to take care of the elderly in nursing facilities then to hire aids to service them at home. It will also cost the government more money to finance foster homes for abused kids then to work with the family. Personally, I think these cuts are the results of poor management.

I personally know of an instance where two people were sent to work on a home contract basis after several years of employment for an agency area development district because of federal cut backs. Both of them lost all employee benefits and retirement just to keep their jobs. The executive director told them that there had been major cuts in the aging program and unless they both agreed to go on home contract, then one of them would be fired, so naturally neither one of them wanted to see the other lose their job. After they went on contract, a month later the executive director had all of the offices renovated and hired other employees. Then soon after, they decided to have a brand new building built and relocated to another city.

The American people cannot afford to sit back and let the elderly and poor innocent children suffer because of poor management or anything else. The cut backs affect us all and some are just now beginning to feel what I have for several years now. I know what it’s like- not to be able to go to the doctor because of no insurance, and I also know what it’s like not to have a retirement. The only thing that can be done is, give up everything that you don’t need and pray for a better tomorrow.

Shooting

The article that appeared in the New York Times, April 4, 2009, was about the shooting that occurred in Bingham New York. Apparently, a gunman entered the American Civic Association Center on Friday, April 3, and opened fire during citizenship classes. The New York Times reports that the killing was over in minutes, but the ordeal lasted three hours. It’s still not clear what the perpetrator’s motivation was that resulted in this tragedy, although some report that it was because the gunman, an emigrant from Viet Nam who possessed very poor English skills, had recently lost his job (Associated Press). The Vice President said Americans must find a way to prevent this kind of bloodshed.

I’m afraid this is only the beginning of many serious dramas that could occur if the American economy does not improve. People are desperate, watching the big shots abuse the Federal bailout money, while the middle class continues to lose their jobs. How long can this disparity between the haves and have-nots continue before someone else snaps? Of course it’s barbaric, and sane people do not behave in this manner, but when you don’t know where your child’s next meal will come from, it could trigger violent behavior in the less stable among us. I don’t know if the gunman had a wife and children, but he was not from this country, and evidently could not speak English well, which probably caused him to lack the skills needed for employment.

A lot of the major corporations have moved to Mexico, or other third-world countries, so they can pay cheap labor instead of paying the workers here a decent wage. This has caused many people who have spent years of their life as dedicated workers to have to search to find new jobs. Many of them are surprised to learn that they lack technological skills needed to qualify for many modern-day jobs.