Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Apr 23, 2008, at 2:23 PM, Lynda wrote:

> Gene, I think you are much too inclined to trust the printed and  
> spoken
> word.

I read MSM skeptically. What trust I have is colored and earned by  
sources that have proved dependable. My views on this subject are  
evolved from decades of observation, reading and thinking. You are  
ignoring my long-standing and constant admonition to be skeptical of  
what is written. If not printed and spoken words, from where else do  
you get your information on this subject?

> Yes, our criminal justice system is flawed.  However, exaggeration  
> isn't
> going to fix anything.  I'm quite sure that the vast majority of  
> American
> citizens, including those currently incarcerated would much prefer our
> system to that of China (470 *acknowledged* execution in 2007)

Happy to see they are ahead of Texas.

I am not at all sure that execution is a worse fate than being  
sentenced to spend the rest of one's life in jail. I personally would  
prefer execution. Which would you prefer?
> The *supposed* war on drugs is not simply something that is  
> happening in the
> U.S.

I care about the comparison with other countries only as a measuring  
point, not as a comparison of punishments.
> #1 -  I don't think being unhappy is or should be an excuse for  
> committing a
> crime.

Of course not. My probe is for reasons for our horrendous  
incarceration rate, a laundry list about which to think. So, among the  
reasons, I wonder if our citizens are more unhappy than the citizens  
of other, seemingly civilized countries.
> #2 - Could you clarify this one.

We have many laws against victimless "crimes," those acts that do not  
violate the rights of others, such as smoking marijuana, public  
drunkenness, prostitution, sodomy, attempted suicide.
> #3 - I don't think this one applies.  I think we simply have far too  
> many
> stupid criminals!

So do you feel that our criminals are more stupid than the criminals  
of other countries? On what do you base such a conclusion?
> #4 - As to harsher laws?  I think that would be all in how you define
> harsher and whose laws you are comparing to.  Do you really think  
> juvie is
> harsher than caning?

Depends on the juvie sentence and how many strokes and how hard the  
cane.
> #5 - I odn't agree with that one at all.  Our laws are rarely  
> followed as to
> length of sentence and are far below those of other countries.
>
> #6 - That isn't an excuse for committing a crime.

Not cavalier attitude by the citizen, but by the government, ignoring  
obvious and long-standing social inequities. How else shall we  
understand the high percentage of black men in jail?
> #7 - I agree that EMPLOYED *first-time offenders* should be treated  
> with a
> different set of rules (weekends, community service, fines and stiff
> probation/parole) but only if they aren't repeat offenders.
>
> #8 - Compared to who?

The other countries that have lower incarceration rates.