Skip to comments.
Criminalizing America – How Big Government Makes a Criminal of Every American
ALEC ^
| 11-6-13
| Cara Sullivan
Posted on 11/06/2013 1:43:16 PM PST by ThethoughtsofGreg
There are more than 1.5 million Americans under the supervision of state and federal correctional facilities, at a cost of more than $30,000 per prisoner every year. While some criminal laws and sanctions are necessary to protect safety and ensure justice, criminalized actions now include many normal, everyday activities that average Americans and business owners have little way of knowing are crimes. As a result, well-meaning, law-abiding American citizens and business owners spend innumerable hours and dollars fending off criminal prosecution for actions they never suspected were illegal, and states spend millions incarcerating nonthreatening individuals.
States cannot afford the budgetary costs of imprisoning nonviolent individuals who acted without criminal intentions, and society cannot afford the human costs of incarcerating individuals who do not need to be imprisoned to protect public safety.
(Excerpt) Read more at alec.org ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: biggovernment; budgets; liberals; overcriminalization
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-23 next last
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
Here in Maryland they have this offense called a ‘hate incident’ that the police investigate and keep records of and tell the newspapers about
Hate incidents are offenses that cant be against the law due to First Amendment(unlike hate crimes) , like a racial slur.
2
posted on
11/06/2013 1:46:27 PM PST
by
sickoflibs
(To GOP : Any path to US Citizenship IS putting them ahead in line. Stop lying about your position)
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
States cannot afford the budgetary costs of imprisoning nonviolent individuals who acted without criminal intentions, and society cannot afford the human costs of incarcerating individuals who do not need to be imprisoned to protect public safety.
This would be correct were the goal that of actually preserving and encouraging a peaceful and successful society. It isn't. It is not a question of budgetary capacity or human costs when the goal is the establishment of a collectivist existence where the State is the only object of infallibility.
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
I’ll say it again:
Yes, we need to end the police state. The criminal prosecution for traffic violations is beyond acceptable. If you have outstanding traffic tickets, they should not be able to arrest you and throw you in with the rest of the criminals in the jail. Simply deny registration for your vehicle, or license renewal, etc. If you do not pay and get caught driving, then vehicle confiscation. This BS of making money off of throwing people in jail for traffic violations is BS. Drugs or drinking and driving? thats different. Stop making the US a police state.
4
posted on
11/06/2013 1:48:23 PM PST
by
9422WMR
(: " Tolerance is the virtue of a man who has no convictions".)
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
I’ve often said that in today’s Amerika, the average person has committed at least half a dozen misdemeanors before breakfast, and a felony or two by lunchtime.
5
posted on
11/06/2013 1:53:53 PM PST
by
IronJack
(=)
To: 9422WMR
In a Communist state, the greatest crimes are economic crimes. Ever read
The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn?
It is a real life version of that fictitious passage in Atlas Shrugged where one of the nanny staters explains why they want to make every citizen a criminal.
6
posted on
11/06/2013 1:58:59 PM PST
by
Vigilanteman
(Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
From "Atlas Shrugged"
Dr. Ferris smiled. . . . . ."We've waited a long time to get something on you. You honest men are such a problem and such a headache. But we knew you'd slip sooner or later - and this is just what we wanted."
"You seem to be pleased about it."
"Don't I have good reason to be?"
"But, after all, I did break one of your laws."
"Well, what do you think they're for?"
Dr. Ferris did not notice the sudden look on Rearden's face, the look of a man hit by the first vision of that which he had sought to see. Dr. Ferris was past the stage of seeing; he was intent upon delivering the last blows to an animal caught in a trap.
"Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against - then you'll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. We're after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and you'd better get wise to it. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted - and you create a nation of law-breakers - and then you cash in on guilt. Now, that's the system, Mr. Rearden, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."
7
posted on
11/06/2013 2:00:46 PM PST
by
gov_bean_ counter
(Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
Did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? said Dr. Ferris. We want them broken. Youd better get it straight that its not a bunch of boy scouts youre up againstthen youll know that this is not the age for beautiful gestures. Were after power and we mean it. You fellows were pikers, but we know the real trick, and youd better get wise to it. Theres no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there arent enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? Whats there it that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpretedand you create a nation of lawbreakersand then you cash in on guilt. Now thats the system, Mr. Rearden, thats the game, and once you understand it, youll be much easier to deal with. --Dr. Ferris, "Atlas Shrugged," by Ayn Rand
8
posted on
11/06/2013 2:03:57 PM PST
by
E. Pluribus Unum
(Who knew that one day professional wrestling would be less fake than professional journalism?)
To: ThethoughtsofGreg; Travis McGee
Government criminalizes you if you grow tomatoes in your yard and sell them. Government criminalizes the metal shop owner who wants to employ a couple of local teenagers at the wages he considers workable, teaching them the trade that way. Government criminalizes you if you try to prevent an openly homosexual man from leading your kids' youth group. Government criminalizes you if you try to take your dad's fishing boat out and earn a living the way he did. Now government criminalizes doctors who just want to run their medical businesses as their own.
Just read on a thread that starting next year, kids are criminals at University of Virginia, where they must have health insurance in order to attend class. No health insurance, no college education.
The government considers all of us "domestic enemies." We, on the other hand, consider the government the "domestic enemy." Or at least, we should.
9
posted on
11/06/2013 2:10:17 PM PST
by
Finny
(Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -- Psalm 119:105)
To: gov_bean_ counter; E. Pluribus Unum
10
posted on
11/06/2013 2:53:41 PM PST
by
thesearethetimes...
("Courage, is fear that has said its prayers." Dorothy Bernard)
To: gov_bean_ counter; E. Pluribus Unum; Publius
11
posted on
11/06/2013 2:54:54 PM PST
by
thesearethetimes...
("Courage, is fear that has said its prayers." Dorothy Bernard)
To: Vigilanteman
They shoot people in China for economic “crimes”.
12
posted on
11/06/2013 2:55:55 PM PST
by
Secret Agent Man
(Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
To: Vigilanteman
Course they also shoot drug dealers in China too. Wish we did that here.
13
posted on
11/06/2013 2:56:26 PM PST
by
Secret Agent Man
(Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
“The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there arent enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.”—Ayn Rand
14
posted on
11/06/2013 3:14:35 PM PST
by
Hugin
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
Government is out of control.
15
posted on
11/06/2013 3:23:06 PM PST
by
I want the USA back
(Media: completely irresponsible traitors. Complicit in the destruction of our country.)
To: Finny
16
posted on
11/06/2013 5:28:30 PM PST
by
Travis McGee
(www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
To: gov_bean_ counter
Thank you! That’s the passage I wanted quoted in post #6.
17
posted on
11/06/2013 6:14:51 PM PST
by
Vigilanteman
(Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
To: Finny
"Bad Comrade Matt"
18
posted on
11/06/2013 6:36:44 PM PST
by
Travis McGee
(www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
To: Finny
"Bad Comrade Matt"
19
posted on
11/06/2013 6:36:56 PM PST
by
Travis McGee
(www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
To: ThethoughtsofGreg
Always demand a jury trial.
The jury has the power, whether the judge tells them (unlikely) or not, to find the defendant not guilty because the law is unjust. Oh yes they can!
The soap box, the ballot box, the jury box ... and finally the cartridge box.
20
posted on
11/06/2013 8:08:21 PM PST
by
DNME
(Something wicked this way comes ...)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-23 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson