Help with HS Sociology project

WHS Sociology Department ^ | 3/27/04 | Self

[CAPPSMADNESS]

Hello to all,

My son has been given an assignment for his Sociology class and thought this forum would be a great place for him to receive some varied input. We have tried not to influence our children regarding politics, preferring them to make their own decisions regarding regarding party affiliation and such. This has not been an easy task.

Matt and I thought it would be great to pose these questions on this forum to gather input from here. The questions are as follows:

1. What Constitutional rights should be required to be given up if one is sentenced to a felony & why?

2. Do you believe that if prisoners are treated more humanely (own TV's, liberal use of telephone priviledges, family/cojugal visits, more activities inside and out, etc.) that they would be less likely to be violent or a danger upon release from prison? Expalin your answer.

3. Do you agree with capitol punishment? Why or why not?

4. How long should someone be allowed to remain on death row before their sentence is carried out?

5. Should lethal injection be the only form of carrying out the death penalty? Expalin.

6. Whould you ever consider a career in law enforcement? Why/Why not?

7. What would be the most difficult part of being a police officer and why?

Thanks to anyone who wishes to add thier thoughts to this. Please keep in mind that although Matt is a very mature 16, civility would be nice

[freedumb2003]

Reagan was a very compassionate and caring person.

Almost all modern civil rights legislation was initiated by, and signed into law by....
Richard M. Nixon and
Ronald W. Reagan

The dirty little secret that Libs won't utter. JFK did very little compared to what these great evil Republians did (lets not forget that Lincoln, who imancipated the slaves was a Republican).

It's all very simple: Liberals care about Agendae. Conservatives care about People.

[CindyDawg]

You bring up some good points. I don't know how I would react about that but I do know I would be furious regarding the people who put a violent criminal back on the streets. Maybe as you say there could be appeals. I think the difference in our views relates to where we both are. You see the worst of the worst whereas I meet the non violent felons that usually messed up when young and then not able to get a good job, join the military, vote, or even go hunting as a group with friends. They paid their dues and have been clean for years but they continue to be punished.
Things are different now too. We probably all (you included) break laws without knowing it. It seems like every day they is a new "felony" born. Don't you think this should be reserved for the worst crimes?

[CindyDawg]

You see this, Matt?http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1106333/posts

[BoozeHag]

These are in no certain order: Prison should be tougher. It should be about punishment and loss of privileges. Unless a prisoner is rehabilitated, keep them behind bars. I don't believe in capitol punishment. As it is, it's arbitrary. If you take a life, I think you should have yours taken. Capitol punishment is not equally applied and never will be. I would never consider law enforcement as a career. I'm a teacher. Educators prepare the future, law enforcement monitors the past. Good luck on the paper.

[GraniteStateConservative]

We have tried not to influence our children regarding politics, preferring them to make their own decisions regarding regarding party affiliation and such.

Do you influence your children regarding religion or drinking alcohol or smoking pot or taking Ecstasy or premarital sex or speaking vulgar words, etc? What makes politics different?

[Crawdad]

Sociology= The painstaking pursuit of the obvious.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I just replied the same way. I think this thread will be hijacked on this issue. It's more interesting than FReepers doing this kid's homework for him.

[CindyDawg]

I think we are participating in his survey instead of doing his homework:')

Kids are molded. No getting around it. I would rather be the one molding mine vs someone else. That said, molding doesn't mean brain washing. You lead them in the right direction but teach them to think for themselves.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I think this is what his sociology project should be-- should parents ignore their responsibility to raise kids to vote for candidates who seek to preserve constitutional principles or should parents stick their head in the sand and pretend that they should be hands-off best buddies of their kids?

[FITZ]

Not me --- if one of my kids would have said they supported Clinton, they'd have gotten kicked out of my home. They know I could never live with a liberal.

[CindyDawg]

HMM. Let me introduce you to my husband. He believes that he gets 2 plus votes. His, mine and any kids over 18 still at home:') Parents usually know best. I say if no physical harm being done, leave them alone and let them raise their kids the way they want to.

[GraniteStateConservative]

We do discuss our beliefs and convictions with out children, but I also refuse to place blinders on them so that they do not see any other opinions. As I said before, I don't want carbon copies - I am enjoying watching my children grow into individuals through a combine effort of our guidance and their own explorations, much as all children do.

When you expose your kids to liberal stupidity, do you point out how wrong it is and how destructive it is and why? Do you tell them that it's just as important to vote right as it is to live right? Of course they should be exposed to the evils of liberalism just as they should be exposed to the evils of taking drugs-- showing them pictures of druggies, talking to them about the experiences of withdrawal and what it's like to OD. No one is suggesting you protect your kids from the world. That would be foolish. But how do you expose your kids to other opinions and other experiences?

[GraniteStateConservative]

You don't think there is any harm in not making it clear how dangerous it is to vote Democrat? How destructive their policies are on society? How damaging they'd be to that person personally?

[GraniteStateConservative]

Yeah, I'd view that statement from my kid as if they said they'd decided to randomly victimize strangers. I'd set them straight post haste.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

Great questions, but I did not post this to debate you on my child rearing techniques, I posted it so that Matt could see different opinions from various posters on this forum.

My children, have worked as volunteers at homeless shelters, hospices, the local food bank and a place called "My Father's Kitchen". They have seen various things and have formed various opinions of them.

As far as political opinion, they have their father, me and grandparents who are Republicans, My family who are democrats and a few cousins who are more liberal than Hillary Clintoon. So they have plenty of exposure.....

[CindyDawg]

As I said you teach them to think for themselves and if they think like that then as Fitz said,"kick um out" into the real world:') They will come back to the roots of their raising real fast. Why am I telling you this anyway? As I said, my husband tells us how to use his votes. We don't have to understand why. (I drive him nuts. I research each candidate and vote one at a time. I'm independent and have been known to cross over occasionally. He can't understand why I just don't vote straight ticket since I usually vote for all republicans anyway). lol

[CAPPSMADNESS]

At no point in the post did I ask you or anyone else to do his homework for him - see my post #13 (I think.

[FITZ]

I'd set them straight post haste.

Luckily I never had to --- my at-the-time 4 year old had Clinton figured out on his own --- once someone was talking about the movie "Liar, Liar" and he asks "is that about Clinton?" and he'd see Clinton on the television and inform me that the liar was back on the tv and should he turn it off.

[timestax]

In most cases it is not difficult to determine which prisoners will be repeat offenders. They are released anyway to commit more crimes against society. If they were kept in jail it would not increase the risk by much to restore all rights to the rest of released felons.

Posted by muuggs, not timestax

[BoozeHag]

I applaud you for helping Matt with his survey! I say leave parenting to the parents. I have two parents who are democrats, and I'm a very conservative independent/republican. Go figure.