Our Penal System Is Insane!

Cèad mìle fàilte romhat! A Hundred Thousand Welcomes to You!

Is there something wrong with our penal system? How can we improve upon it? What is a cool idea that would transform this problem and better society as a whole?

To answer the first question, the answer is YES! The United States is number one in incarceration rates and number one in returnees. In short, our system has failed.

What is the DEFINITION OF INSANITY:

Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

Like our penal system. Over half the people who leave the system reenter within 5 years of getting out. The US leads the world in incarceration rates. Our solution to this problem is employing the same old policies. "More bars, more guards." It is time to face the music. Our system is broken. We need to do something, because the violent offenders are staying in less and less and reentering more and more. 

Retrieved from reddit.com on Dec 2, 2014

Instead of thinking in terms of retribution, why don't we think of ways to rehabilitation?  Stopping the bad behavior once and for all? Truth is, criminals leave the system much harder than they ever were before going in there. Most enter due to drug offences, mainly THC, but they come out angrier, colder and more broken than ever before. Kind of defeats the purpose, turning people into dangerous ones. No, no, no, no. We need to get a handle on this. We need to get better, not worse!

Retrieved from statesman.com on Dec 2, 2014

Retribution, doesn't that mean that we give them more punishment? Yes. Therefore the slave labor of a quarter every hour needs to stop and besides, with underpaid "employees" the local economy can't compete real well with real jobs if a prison is in town, underselling everyone at the table. Also, let's give these people more TV time, because it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that 23 out of 24 hours of lock-down isn't good for one's psychiatric health. We are letting these people out and expecting them to behave themselves? Are you kidding me???

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Rehabilitation, doesn't that mean that we educate these people? Ahhh. That! Exactly that! Does that mean we give them therapy so they would know how to deal with stress better? Again, that! Exactly that! I foresee problems already.

It is apparent that something is really wrong about this idea, because, as some people would complain:

BUT, THESE PEOPLE BROKE THE RULES --- ARE WE GOING TO LET THEM GET ALL THIS FREE STUFF THAT HONEST HARDWORKING FOLKS CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO AFFORD ON THEIR OWN??? 

Retrieved from virus.stanford.edu on Dec 2, 2014
The poster is regarding the "Spanish Flu" of 1918

It first appears that we are rewarding bad behavior. This is only because bad behavior means free healthcare and education whereas good behavior means everything is costly. There is a solution, however.

Norway is doing it, and it works! Germany is doing it and it is working! This is how we solve this problem. Universal Healthcare AND Universal Education for EVERYONE! We need this stuff anyway, even if we are not considering the Penal problem. If we want to live in safer neighborhoods and a productive society, wouldn't we want to ensure that everyone was healthy? If education is an investment in our future, why make people go into a serious amount of debt to try and better the nation and our world? 

If this system is in place, then whatever prisoners get for free, they would get for free anyway whether they are in the system or not. What is more, they can continue on their goals of becoming productive citizens while they make the transition, furthering their success in assimilation. How is that for not feeling so embarrassed about being number one in something we wish we were not?

When student loans accumulate to nearly $100,000 in debt
for newly graduated students, then something has to give.

Is it radical? YES! It means major change and plenty of it! To that, there can be no denial. Even so, it does work and therefore it is worth it! Don't let anyone who stand to lose a lot of profit from this turnabout ever be convincing that true rehabilitation won't work. Just remind them that their profiteering is killing our country and the globe!

What is more? If we are truly a "Christian Nation," like a lot say, then shouldn't we have policies that reflect mercy, grace, compassion and forgiveness? Would not love be the number one principle, along with liberty and justice, to guide us on our way?

Blessings to you and your loved ones.

Amhas Jackie Douglas+
Fayetteville, AR

Question Regarding Justice and Mercy of God in Regards to Homosexuality

Cèad mìle fàilte romhat! A hundred thousand welcomes to you!

There is a blog that has a letter written by "Angela." She is struggling with a teenage daughter who is attracted to other females. How can she reconcile the love she has for her daughter and yet, at the same time, know that G_d does not approve of these types of relationships? Angela loves her daughter dearly. She ponders over how the Messiah could reject such a sweet, kindhearted person? If anyone wants to read that letter, the blog, "How to Respond When Your Child Says They're Gay" is found by clicking the link. 

I can understand the struggle that Angela is going through. I know someone who is going through the same struggle that Angela and her husband is going through. How does one choose between Christ and their own child?

Just to give an example of what I am talking about, suppose my child robbed a bank and killed a guard in the process. Clearly, what my child did was wrong. Does this mean that I cannot speak on my child's behalf? Perhaps, he was desperate. He wouldn't normally steal anything, much less kill anyone. As a kid, he wouldn't hurt a fly. Then one day, he got sick. Medical doctors gave him pain medication that eventually became an addiction. When the doctors stopped the prescriptions, the child did what he could to manage the his pain.

Yes! Robbing a bank is bad! Killing someone is even worse! One can always return the money (with interest), but if someone dies, you cannot replace a life.

Do I, as a parent, have any right to speak for my child? If so, would a judge consider these circumstances when figuring a sentence that shows justice for everyone? I know the family members of the guard will feel differently and that is understandable. When faced with a choice between that guard and my son, well, honestly, I'm relieved that my son still lives, but I also grieve for the other family.

Now, let us suppose that this judge is G_d and instead of theft and murder, we are talking about homosexuality. Would G_d, being fair that we all know He is, realize that justice without mercy would be the same punishment for everybody across the board? If so, then no one is saved, for we are all sinners.

G_d has in times past shown mercy to those who I feel didn't deserve it, like that thief on the cross. A lifetime of stealing and causing mayhem, yet one statement guaranteed his entrance into Paradise. Therefore, G_d is also merciful along with being just. If G_d shows mercy towards thieves and murderers, would He not also show mercy for gay men and lesbians? Being all knowing and all wise, I can trust in the fact that G_d really knows what is going on inside a person's heart; because life is rarely black and white. There is always the other side to the story.

Then, there is a question regarding homosexual relationships and sin. Despite the many texts used in Scripture to show that homosexuality is a sin, it does remain unclear if some of these texts may be speaking about promiscuity and/or sexual exploitation. In other words, a lifetime commitment of love and intimacy between two adult persons not related to each other might not be a sin at all. The Reformed Celtic Church has an article that explains this in further detail. The article is called, "The Reformed Celtic Church Statement and Policy on Homosexuality and Same-Gender Marriage." 

Of course, one suspects that if mercy comes with justice, then one could come to the conclusion that all will be saved. There is an actual concept in historical Christianity that is commonly called "Universal Salvation." There is an article that explains the history of Universalism in Christianity. Again, just click the link. 

The Messiah was quoting Hosea 6.6 here.
When it comes down to it, the letter kills, but spirit gives life (2 Corinthians 3.6)

Thanks for listening. May the peace of our Messiah and Mary be with you and your loved ones.