Quote:
Originally posted by Kimmie1913
Although this is somewhat moving away from the topic of the thread, here are my concerns with disenfranchisement. What exactly is the rationale for taking away the right to vote? What is the purpose for this disenfranchisement? Our justice system has multiple personality disorder. Some of its policies are based on punishment, some on rehabilitation. On one hand, it says you are supposedly welcomed back into society once you have paid your debt but on the other hand you can never pay your debt because you will always be without certain "rights."
I think what is significant about the fact that these laws came about during slavery and reconstruction/Jim crow relates to their underlying purpose and rationale. Are they accomplishing anything and is there a reason we feel that someone with a felony conviction should not be able to vote? Maybe the majority of people do feel they make sense but I wonder has anyone really stopped to think about it.
As far as accountability, I agree. We are all responsible for our own choices and actions. I am of the mindset that it is not about excusing AfAm's who do wrong because the system is not equal, it is about making the system equal and punishing everyone who deserves it. All Americans need to be held accountable. When I argue against racial profiling, it is not to say I think those who were caught should have not been but to say I want them to look for all criminals regardless of race. The choice to more vigorously police one population will result in finding the criminals where you look. I want them to look everywhere, not just here. I want the role of bias in arrests, prosecution, and sentencing to be acknowledged and addressed. I want the playing field to not be theoretically even but actually even. If you think it is even in the criminal justice system, come sit in the courthouse in Baltimore City and watch the disparate goings ons with me for a day or two.
It seems like these discussions (in the world not just GC) often come down to either you think how things are done is fine and AfAm's are society's losers who are whining about nothing or you are somehow rooting to set the criminals free.
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I won't deny that there were probably racist motives that drove the reasons convicted felons can't vote...but see here is the thing.... yes you're supposed to regain "rights" when you get out of prison...but until the recidivism rates drop...convicted criminals don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to defending their "right" to vote....and that they're done their "time." The justice system isn't perfect..as is no system...but dang....its not like our folx are running to the RIGHT to vote anyway....lets deal with those that have this right first and aren't using it....then deal with the convicted criminals!
You point to the courthouse in Baltimore City and the playing field being uneven...well is it really the Criminal Justice system or is it the AA's that are committing the crimes?? I'm sorry..but the fact that there are more black males incarcerated than in college speaks to me about the Black community family etc... not the Criminal Justice system. Yes there are sentencing differences etc... but are you saying that AA's aren't committing crime disproportionately to other races??
We can blame the criminal justice system, we can blame the repubs or dems for laws/bills that did or did not pass, slavery....all that! But the bottom line is we need to get ourselves in order. If we don't want to get sent to jail in record numbers...its up to US to change that...not the Criminal Justice system....
As far as racial profiling...that could lead into another thread...but I will say this. Maybe it is racial profiling..but it think its STUPID to be pulling little old ladies out of the line in the airport...while Arab men walk through...all in the interest of being fair...but I digress!
OK I think this thread is OFFICIALLY hijacked!