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The Conservative Underground ^ | 3/21/09 | Conservative Underground

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Prisoners should not be sentenced to hard labor, or any kind of forced labor.

What about the concept that if you do not work you should not eat. That is a biblical principle and is in the finest Conservative tradition. Prisoners in gaol should not be exempted from that principle, surely?

> It’s only aim should be to protect the innocent, that’s all.

What about punishing the guilty? What about rehabilitating them before they are released back into the community? Those are both legitimate goals of the penal system, surely?

[Boucheau]

These are our prisoners, not our slaves. The question is a moral one. They should not be forced to work.

If it is a voluntary decision that can benefit them in their rehabilitation, or reduced time, etc., then fine.

We are slave owners, or we are not.

Now, I don’t want to get into a discussion about punishment. The question was regarding forced labor.

I’ll kindly end it there as I don’t feel up to typing out a book this morning.

[shibumi]

"This is why PRINCIPLES and the resulting CHARACTER are so vital to human evolution. They succeed where EVERYTHING else fails."

You really shouldn't have to do anything book length. I think the statement quoted above is clear and pithy.

(I wince momentarily at the use of the word "evolution" I prefer to call it "development." But that's a minor nuance not affecting the truth of the statement.)

[DieHard the Hunter]

> I’ll kindly end it there as I don’t feel up to typing out a book this morning.

(grin!) Fair enough.

I guess that is one key difference between your flavor of Conservatism and mine. I see nothing immoral about requiring convicts to work for their sustainance: quite the contrary. I believe it is immoral for them not to and would have no compunctions about requiring it, as the concept enjoys full support from the ultimate Conservative document, Holy Writ.

That’s one of the key advantages to Conservatism: differing conservative viewpoints can be accommodated without compromising the key underlying principles that make Conservatism — well — conservative.

[frankenMonkey]

Kudos to you and Boucheau...
An intelligent conversation that didn’t degrade into name calling and flame throwing. I wish there was more of that here on FR.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Kudos to you and Boucheau...
> An intelligent conversation that didn’t degrade into name calling and flame throwing. I wish there was more of that here on FR.

(grin!) Thanks!

[shibumi]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2211233/posts

Check out the above linked thread, starting with post #13 or so, and read to the end.

To his credit - no matter what side of the debate you’re on - Kozak both publicly and privately (through FReepmail to me) did the right thing and re-elevated the tone.

I have also sent him a conciliatory letter.

There’s something in the air I think - A feeling that these differences in our big tent need to be put aside for a united front against the real enemy we face. We need to remember that the enemy of my enemy is my FRiend.

Our conservatism needs to be uncompromising, but the movement I envision has room in it for the Deist Jefferson, the Atheist Rand and the Evangelical Graham.

Whatever their notions of the nature and destiny of man, their understanding of natural law and the limited government that it necessitates is common.

I started to make this a PM, but then thought it might be a sentiment worth sharing.

[Boucheau]

“...but the movement I envision has room in it for the Deist Jefferson, the Atheist Rand and the Evangelical Graham.”

I agree. If these groups can come together to fight the left(and I think they are) we will be a strong force.

The core agreement on INDIVIDUAL freedom is a huge deal.

_________________________________________________________

For the record: I am not always a nice-guy on this forum. I can only tolerate ingorance so far, then, admittedly, I can get pretty cranky.

Lately, there have been some people here arguing against the AIG bonuses that have made me very angry as they argue alongside the hard-left.

I have beaten them down relentlessly. :)

I MEAN well, when I must.

[Pastelsbywelz]

The Conservative Underground is a social network with posters who are not trying to be funny/pithy etc. They are more serious -my take.
If you are socializing here on this site and are satisfied, then don’t investigate the other sites.