Let ex-felons vote?

Discussion in 'Opinion POLLS' started by Ronstar, Sep 22, 2020.

?

Let ex-felons vote?

  1. Yes

    21 vote(s)
    84.0%
  2. No

    4 vote(s)
    16.0%
  1. Pollycy

    Pollycy Well-Known Member

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    I will be the first to agree that we need to have a greatly improved public education system! For the last 40 years, we've churned out one 'graduating class' after another that really have been taught next-to-NOTHING that is of any use or benefit to them. So many students have just schlepped around from one grade to the next, and suddenly, they're graduates, and of no further concern to the public school 'education-industry' in this country (or to the only group that really loves things exactly as they are -- the teachers' unions).


    But I notice that you didn't even try to refute what I said about the idea that we can (and should) build prison systems in this country that are MUCH more cost-effective to build, staff, maintain, and operate! There is absolutely NO doubt in my mind that every prison in this country could operate with 50% less appropriated money than they have right now! Again -- we should concentrate on a few simple things -- CONFINE prisoners, feed prisoners, equip them with suitable inmate 'uniforms', and provide for the medical requirements of prisoners. That's ALL! These prisons are not universities, country clubs, recreation centers, sports clubs, or places where you go to have A GOOD TIME! Do you 'get' that...?!

    They broke the law -- lock them up and keep them away from the rest of us for the full term of their sentences! :police:
     
  2. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    In most prisons there is little to no social services.

    The only way you're getting a 50% reduction in cost is killing half.
     
  3. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    True, but what they were doing in Jim Crow was arresting Blacks for the purpose of disenfranchising them. That's different from what went before.

    Yes, yes, you can lose a privilege for abusing it. But that still does nothing to justify stealing the right to vote. That was not abused.
     
  4. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Let em vote and let em own guns. If they can't be trusted to do either, what are they doing out of prison?
     
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  5. Josh77

    Josh77 Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I think they should be able to vote after their sentence and after all fines, etc have been paid off. Pay off your debt to society completely, and then you can join society again.
     
  6. ArmySoldier

    ArmySoldier Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I agree, but voting shouldn't be the only right they get back. They should be able to purchase a fire arm...etc. If we're giving one right back, they should have every right back if they paid their debt to society.
     
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  7. Pollycy

    Pollycy Well-Known Member

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    At the very least, if any convict is given 'early-release', parole, etc., then they should not be allowed the full rights of citizenship again until the FULL TERM of the original conviction is fulfilled.

    If nothing else, consider the rate of RICIDIVISM among former convicts! Let 'em vote and the worst thing they can do is commit voter fraud (a common pastime among many Democrats). Let 'em have firearms, however, and you've got even more septic tanks like Portland, Louisville, Chicago, Minneapolis, etc., etc.
     
  8. ArmySoldier

    ArmySoldier Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I believe that once they have paid their debt to society (full sentence, as you stated, early release shouldn't count) and parole is over, all fines paid...etc...they should be restored all rights including purchasing a fire arm. How they choose to act after their rights are given back, is up to them. Once they have completely paid their debt to society, they are free.
     
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  9. FreshAir

    FreshAir Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    federal crimes are that way

    I think part of the problem is the war on drugs, we need to end that

    it's so bad that we release sexual offenders and put them on a list rather then lock them up
     
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  10. Pollycy

    Pollycy Well-Known Member

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    Well, I have to agree... fair is fair. Once they've served their time -- all of it -- then they should have their rights restored.

    But, man, if they commit more crimes after their 'restoration', throw 'em in the 'hole' and never let them see the light of day again! In other words, proper sentencing! But we'll never do that.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
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  11. ArmySoldier

    ArmySoldier Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I agree, fully. If they get their rights restored and then let's say, they shoot someone (even if they miss), they should be automatically given the max sentence without any sort of plea deal and absolutely no parole or early release.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
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  12. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    Nothing is stolen you forfeit it when you commit a serious crime and nothing to do with Jim Crow it applied to anyone convicted of a felony.
     
  13. PJO34

    PJO34 Well-Known Member

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    Once a felon has served his or her time (including probation), he or she should absolutely be allowed to vote.
     
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  14. yardmeat

    yardmeat Well-Known Member

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    I'm mostly in agreement -- in fact, I think this whole "once a felon, always a felon" mentality is part of why recidivism rates are so high. There have been programs that have drastically reduced recidivism rates through everything from meditation to public service (such as firefighting) to dog training to entrepreneurship. It's almost as if the best way to encourage people to become someone else is by showing them they can do so instead of telling them that they can never change, right?

    There is one thing that causes me a lot of hesitation, though: does the nature of the crime matter? If one person's felony was tax evasion and the other person's felony was manslaughter with a firearm, does that change whether or not their firearm rights should be restored? If one person's felony was dealing weed and the other person's felony was voter fraud, does that change whether or not their voting rights should be restored? I'm a hesitant "no" here, personally, but I think there are strong arguments to be made either way.
     
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  15. ArmySoldier

    ArmySoldier Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    These are great questions. My undergrad thesis involved the inconsistency of our legal system.

    Every felon can leave prison and obtain a drivers license. Exceptions include DUI's and a few other items (usually just suspended licenses though). But someone going to prison for tax evasion can still start another business. We need a complete review of what ex felons should and should not be able to do. At least have it even across the board.

    Should the crime dictate what rights they lose or once they are freed should they be viewed as a normal free citizen?

    It's a difficult question.
     
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  16. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    You might want to open a history book one of these days..
     
  17. Ronstar

    Ronstar Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    If they cannot vote they should also not have to pay any government taxes or fees
     
  18. Ronstar

    Ronstar Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    how about we let the judge and juries decide what the appropriate punishment is for each crime. Not vengeful politicians
     
  19. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    Absolutely not the legislature creates the law not judges......geez go study your civics.
     
  20. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    False again. If you are in prison you still have to pay taxes you know. How about if they cannot own a gun they pay no taxes. There is a path they can follow it.

    Why do you not want to punish criminals or have harsh penalties for those whoncommit serious crimes?
     
  21. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    I do all the time, felony disfranchisement LONG predates Jim Crow laws and applied to ANYONE regardless of race.
     
  22. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    "True, but what they were doing in Jim Crow was arresting Blacks for the purpose of disenfranchising them. That's different from what went before."

    Jim Crow had a lot of ugly tricks, poll taxes, literacy tests (that were only given to Blacks), "poll watchers" that would scare off or beat up any Black attempting to vote. I prob missed some, but that should give you the idea.

    Trump's bringing back 'poll watchers' nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
  23. Pollycy

    Pollycy Well-Known Member

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    There have been lots of 'wrongs' throughout history, going back to "black-on-black" slavery in Africa (way before Americans or Europeans even went there). The whole history of mankind is full of 'wrongs', and many of them go on, full-force, throughout the world to this day.

    Here in America, we corrected our racially-based 'wrongs' with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965! From that time, every American citizen is the legal EQUAL of every other American citizen -- period! And that is a very good thing!

    Yet here we are, in the year 2020, going over and over the same crap over and over. And THIS time nearly all of it is because negroes are all inflamed because they think various people committing CRIMINAL activities (who were also negroes, of course) were treated unfairly by the police who had been sent out to arrest them!

    Suggestion: when any group of America's citizens make martyrs and heroes out of CRIMINALS, the outlook for the entire country goes straight in the toilet.... Radical, America-hating Democrats in Seattle, Portland, New York City, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Kenosha would surely disagree....

    [​IMG] . A Hero? :roll: Hint: Passing counterfeit money is a federal crime!
     
  24. (original)late

    (original)late Banned

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    It was a good start, and a country mile from the finish line.
     
  25. Pollycy

    Pollycy Well-Known Member

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    Total legal EQUALITY between all citizens of the United States is the ONLY "finish line"! Everything else is INEQUALITY (examples: "Affirmative Action", and, racial set-asides for minority businesses on government contracts, etc., etc.)....

    EQUAL is EQUAL, and nothing else is! Same goes for criminals -- like counterfeiters, drunks who fight arrest by the police, dangerous offenders who commit domestic violence, etc. White people who do these things get arrested just like black ones -- just as they should be! But when blacks are involved, somehow it all automatically skyrockets into being some big "racial" horror.

    Suggestion: Obey the law, obey police instructions, behave like a civilized human being -- and like magic -- you probably won't (WON'T) ever get in trouble with the police! :omg:

    [​IMG]. "Wow! What a concept!" :banana:
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020

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