I am really proud that you picked my post. I have a 7 link challenge half written. But, I have to finish my post on the Financial Regulation Reform before I can finish it.

You must be watching the Lindsy Lohan trial on Youtube.

Note to readers: If you appear in front of a judge, don’t paint FU on your fingernails. Or, as my cousin likes to say, “The police never think it’s as funny as you do.”

On a more serious note, I grew up in a pretty tough ‘hood and a lot of my friends went to jail. They mostly got tagged for drugs, assault, DUIs and other stupid stuff, but a couple went down for bank robbery. When I grew up and moved away, my whole attitude changed.

The incarceration rate is way too high and that’s an obvious indicator of failure in our system. However, the crime rate is the lowest in recorded history, which is a huge success for victims. I definitely don’t like the explosion of new laws that make virtually everyone into a criminal. However, I do like things like 3 Strikes laws that put repeat offenders away. I also like Marijuana legalization, even though I’m not a smoker. The legal system should concentrate on crimes with victims and stop trying to enforce morality.

When I was a kid, there were maybe four or five offenses that could land you in jail, today there are hundreds, maybe thousands. Transgressions that didn’t use to be offenses now are, and many, many misdomeanors have been converted to felonies. The chances of being jailed are hardly remote anymore.

People seem entirely oblivious to the fact that all of the public and political outcries for “getting tough on crime” mostly result in a battery of new laws and enhanced existing laws that come ever closer to sending the average joe to the pokey!

There’s a former prosecutor in our state who goes to the high schools and talks to both students and parents about just how close most kids come to criminal behavior. I agree with his contention that most people are completely unaware of just how restrictive the law has become. The stuff we did when we were teenagers has now largely been crimilized.

I’m not at all sure we’re heading in the right direction on this, but it’s something everyone needs to be fully aware of. Even if you’re financially prosperous and feeling a bit insulated!
Kevin@OutOfYourRut recently posted..Why Bundling Services Might be a Bad Deal

I was a teenager in the ’70s and a single guy in the ’80s, so I’ve seen my share of parties. And, I have seen a lot of people who were affected by drugs and alcohol. But, it wasn’t until I worked with so many recovering people that I understood what they went through. If I can help just one person avoid that lifestyle, all of my talks will be worth something.

I never thought of the money lost from addiction but that makes perfect sense. I have some friends with professional degrees who don’t have the assets they should because they spent too much money on drugs and not enough time earning money.
Jennifer Barry recently posted..Top 8 Signs You Should Leave Your Job