From Left Field: “Crime and Punishment”
April 6th 2011 15:48
In a fast paced world filled with phrases like “Breaking News” and “Immediate Impact” it has become far too easy to forget about the subjects that are flying under the radar of “major” news networks and media sources.
Subjects like an evolution in the way society deals with crime and punishment and the affects it has had on communities across the globe.
When asked to think about the subject of crime, many people immediately jump to the vision of prisoners incarcerated with the amenities of cable television, three square meals a day and the avoidance of any real punishment for the pain they have inflicted while others point to the unfair balance of the system that allows punishment and judgment for the same crime to be delivered in different ways.
It has been said that the mark of a great society is in how they treat men, women and children convicted of crimes and fairness of the process to decide guilt or innocence.
A system of crime and punishment that has evolved from the basic principle of a man or woman standing in front of judge or a jury of their peers to a process that is based more upon a man or woman’s ability to purchase the best defense counsel money can buy.
Like many other aspects of modern society money has become the key factor in all phases of the system that is crime and punishment.
From the millions of dollars spent on trying to win an un-winnable war against drugs to the cheap labor created within the American prison system for million dollar corporations and the states that house them.
To understand the problems within in the American prison system we have to fist look into the principle of problems building upon problems.
A principle that should be examined with the theory of deconstructionism as opposed to the backwards approach that has been done for decades by trying to build a skyscraper in the middle of a swamp.
A mess has been created and it’s become harder and harder to find anyone willing to stand up and find the problem at its source.
Somewhere beyond the aspect of a racial anomalies in the United States Prison System and the un-explainable desire to lay down severe punishments for the sale, possession and use of one drug while delivering a slap on the wrist for another is a conversation about how we move forward as a race of people to help one another instead of working to herd more of the sick, impoverished and weak to slaughter.
The very same people targeted to show the public what the government is doing to “clean up the streets” are in the most need for rehabilitation services and programs to find alternatives for life after prison but are not getting these things.
Instead, mandatory prison sentences are created with a focus on showing the public examples instead of fixing the overall issue.
It’s been said that the action of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.
Armed with facts and the weapon of knowledge from decades of damage done from short sighted thinking; we should begin to see the light.
The light that will show the damage we have caused upon ourselves by making the War on Drugs more about punishing its casualties rather than attacking the problem at its source.
Reminiscent of the mafia wars created by prohibition; Mexican Drug Cartels who have profited off of the United States Drug War are now fighting for power among themselves and the law enforcement officials who stand in their way.
When dealing with a war controlled by nation to nation conflict it is easy to set terms and consider expectations of attacks, casualties, wins and losses.
In wars that involve ideas instead of physical targets estimating victories and losses is and will always be a murky issue.
The way we think about War needs to be re-assessed to a point where we stop and ask ourselves if it is worth the continued loss of entire communities that run in fear of law enforcement, gangs, and drug dealers.
If we truly look at the issue of Crime and Punishment with fresh eyes what we will find is a long line of casualties, self inflicted pain and laundry list of long term damage that is still happening on a daily basis.
An assessment that would be worthy of being addressed to the people by the President of the United States of America if it involved a foreign conflict or a domestic attack but since we are doing it to ourselves it has fallen on deaf ears…
“From the Left Field” is a new feature that will be posted on the Khalfani King Facebook page each and every Wednesday.
Unlike other daily posts “From the Left Field” will be focused on news stories that aren’t receiving top billing by the “major” news networks and media outlets.
For more articles like this and features on “Breaking News Stories” please sign up as a fan on the Khalfani King Facebook Page by clicking the link below.
Don’t forget to click the “Like” Button to become a fan.
Click Here
Subjects like an evolution in the way society deals with crime and punishment and the affects it has had on communities across the globe.
When asked to think about the subject of crime, many people immediately jump to the vision of prisoners incarcerated with the amenities of cable television, three square meals a day and the avoidance of any real punishment for the pain they have inflicted while others point to the unfair balance of the system that allows punishment and judgment for the same crime to be delivered in different ways.
It has been said that the mark of a great society is in how they treat men, women and children convicted of crimes and fairness of the process to decide guilt or innocence.
A system of crime and punishment that has evolved from the basic principle of a man or woman standing in front of judge or a jury of their peers to a process that is based more upon a man or woman’s ability to purchase the best defense counsel money can buy.
Like many other aspects of modern society money has become the key factor in all phases of the system that is crime and punishment.
From the millions of dollars spent on trying to win an un-winnable war against drugs to the cheap labor created within the American prison system for million dollar corporations and the states that house them.
To understand the problems within in the American prison system we have to fist look into the principle of problems building upon problems.
A principle that should be examined with the theory of deconstructionism as opposed to the backwards approach that has been done for decades by trying to build a skyscraper in the middle of a swamp.
A mess has been created and it’s become harder and harder to find anyone willing to stand up and find the problem at its source.
Somewhere beyond the aspect of a racial anomalies in the United States Prison System and the un-explainable desire to lay down severe punishments for the sale, possession and use of one drug while delivering a slap on the wrist for another is a conversation about how we move forward as a race of people to help one another instead of working to herd more of the sick, impoverished and weak to slaughter.
The very same people targeted to show the public what the government is doing to “clean up the streets” are in the most need for rehabilitation services and programs to find alternatives for life after prison but are not getting these things.
Instead, mandatory prison sentences are created with a focus on showing the public examples instead of fixing the overall issue.
It’s been said that the action of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.
Armed with facts and the weapon of knowledge from decades of damage done from short sighted thinking; we should begin to see the light.
The light that will show the damage we have caused upon ourselves by making the War on Drugs more about punishing its casualties rather than attacking the problem at its source.
Reminiscent of the mafia wars created by prohibition; Mexican Drug Cartels who have profited off of the United States Drug War are now fighting for power among themselves and the law enforcement officials who stand in their way.
When dealing with a war controlled by nation to nation conflict it is easy to set terms and consider expectations of attacks, casualties, wins and losses.
In wars that involve ideas instead of physical targets estimating victories and losses is and will always be a murky issue.
The way we think about War needs to be re-assessed to a point where we stop and ask ourselves if it is worth the continued loss of entire communities that run in fear of law enforcement, gangs, and drug dealers.
If we truly look at the issue of Crime and Punishment with fresh eyes what we will find is a long line of casualties, self inflicted pain and laundry list of long term damage that is still happening on a daily basis.
An assessment that would be worthy of being addressed to the people by the President of the United States of America if it involved a foreign conflict or a domestic attack but since we are doing it to ourselves it has fallen on deaf ears…
“From the Left Field” is a new feature that will be posted on the Khalfani King Facebook page each and every Wednesday.
Unlike other daily posts “From the Left Field” will be focused on news stories that aren’t receiving top billing by the “major” news networks and media outlets.
For more articles like this and features on “Breaking News Stories” please sign up as a fan on the Khalfani King Facebook Page by clicking the link below.
Don’t forget to click the “Like” Button to become a fan.
Click Here
| 27 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
