So every now and then, meaning pretty much every weekend, I like to sit down with a bowl and challenge any long held convictions I have, which are usually fairly conservative in nature (Yes, conservatives toke too, we just dont wear tshirts announcing that we do).
So I started thinking about the way we run our criminal justice system and welfare state, as opposed to the way Europe does it. We all know that the U.S. has much higher crime, and higher poverty since welfare doesnt pay that much. We in the U.S. tend to think that criminals in Europe get off really easy, and also that too many people live off welfare in Europe. Here in the U.S., we like to "make people pay" for their crimes, and then when they get out of jail, they pay for it the rest of their lives considering a felony record pretty much traps you in poverty since noone will hire you for above minimum wage. I began to think that maybe Europe has it figured out.
It understandably irks the shit out of law abiding hard working people to see some lazy people that dont work hard making a meager living off our tax dollars, but I've started to think that maybe increased welfare is the answer to the crime problem we have. We essentially buy off the would be criminals. We also stop ruining peoples lives with prison sentences and criminal records for the lesser crimes so they have the opportunity to turn themselves around. I imagine most criminal activity stems from poverty, so maybe if welfare were just enough to allow people to buy a few things for themselves, they wouldnt feel inclined to rob someone so they can afford a flashy new cellphone or set of rims every once in a while.
What do you think, or should I just lay off the pipe??
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The thread has gotten off topic and turned into insults.
Senior Anandtech Moderator
Common Courtesy
So I started thinking about the way we run our criminal justice system and welfare state, as opposed to the way Europe does it. We all know that the U.S. has much higher crime, and higher poverty since welfare doesnt pay that much. We in the U.S. tend to think that criminals in Europe get off really easy, and also that too many people live off welfare in Europe. Here in the U.S., we like to "make people pay" for their crimes, and then when they get out of jail, they pay for it the rest of their lives considering a felony record pretty much traps you in poverty since noone will hire you for above minimum wage. I began to think that maybe Europe has it figured out.
It understandably irks the shit out of law abiding hard working people to see some lazy people that dont work hard making a meager living off our tax dollars, but I've started to think that maybe increased welfare is the answer to the crime problem we have. We essentially buy off the would be criminals. We also stop ruining peoples lives with prison sentences and criminal records for the lesser crimes so they have the opportunity to turn themselves around. I imagine most criminal activity stems from poverty, so maybe if welfare were just enough to allow people to buy a few things for themselves, they wouldnt feel inclined to rob someone so they can afford a flashy new cellphone or set of rims every once in a while.
What do you think, or should I just lay off the pipe??
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The thread has gotten off topic and turned into insults.
Senior Anandtech Moderator
Common Courtesy
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