1. People are wrongly convicted every day.
2. People are being held captive in prison for breaking laws that don't protect anyone.
3. Racism, sexism and religious fanaticism all contribute to who gets convicted of crimes in this country.
When I was a child, I thought the same as you. But now, I can see that this is a MUCH more complex issue. I would assume that you are young (perhaps very young) and don't really understand that, for many people, crime is perceived to be the only way to survive. In areas where poverty is widespread (such as pretty much everywhere in the USA), young people feel that they must turn to illegal activities to support themselves. These poor people are the bulk of the current incarcerated population--and unfortunately they are disproportionately PEOPLE OF COLOR. This is incredibly unfair since the conditions that these human beings were brought up in were not exactly conducive to following the law. I have been to inner city areas where I literally had to ask the question, "If these people could feel good for just 5 minutes, then WHY WOULDN'T THEY????" Most people in prisons are there for drug offenses. So I ask you, if someone in the ghetto could feel good for five minutes while smoking crack, then why wouldn't they? Do they deserve prison (or your cruel idea of forced labor camps) just for trying to find relief? No. I don't think so.
1 Wrongly convicted people still suffer at the hands of the current western justice system. They are thrown into overcrowded prisons, are raped, and mistreated. If the injustice is discovered it is impossible to calculate just compensation as the degree of their suffering cannot be accurately measured by the inefficient system that allows such barbarism to take place. Modern sciences are advancing and the likelihood of wrongly convicting someone is growing ever slimmer. Besides, even in a more efficient system the opportunity for appeals and pardons would still be provided.
2 When I speak of crime, I speak of willful action that causes harm to another person or property. Consensual Crime therefore does not fall under that definition, and should not be included for the intents and purposes of my question. Thus consensual criminals would be corrected if salvageable rather than punished, and humanely euthanized if not.
3 If one is not content with the laws and customs of their society, they are by no means forced to live there, and should leave. If they are forced to reside in their country then the penal system is no doubt effective and efficient enough, and thus streamlining it further should be the least of that nation's concerns. That is why revolt and revolution exists, so that unjust governments and regimes may be toppled.
Age does not imply intelligence, wisdom, or experience, nor does lack of age imply the absence of such. Alexander the Great was little more than a youth when his reign started while the USA's president Bush was an old man when he took power. Am I to believe that the older man was a better, more capable leader simply because of how long he had lived? Flawed logic my friend, I have lived more in my 21 years than some of my fellow countrymen have lived in twice that.
Drug use indirectly causes harm if the user resorts to true crime such at theft or assault in order to obtain their next high. The purchase and use of illegal drugs also DIRECTLY encourages, enables and finances drug cartels, drug production, smuggling, gangs, syndicates, gang violence, turf wars, and endangers law enforcement officials who must actively fight such forces. If one purchases methamphetamine or cocaine, they are in effect supporting a form of terrorism. They deserve no special treatment or consideration.
Poverty, while a breeding ground for crime, does not excuse it. I myself was destitute for a time, living in a tent and eating only what the government's public schools provided free of charge. I am sure a powerful nation like the USA has a similar program. However, during my poverty, I did not resort to crime of any kind. I was raised to respect the laws of my country and the teachings of my God. If there are those raised to disregard civilized values, then I shall shed no tears if it falls to the Government or ruling party to correct them. It is not as if they never had the opportunity to learn proper human decency or morality.
If an impoverished person mistakenly sees crime as the only means of sustaining themselves or their dependents, then forced labor can hardly be considered cruel, as they would be provided shelter and food while earning their own keep like every other productive member of society. The children would also benefit as wards of the state or ruling party, being provided with food, shelter, education, and correct morality.
So, do drug users who by their habit finance terrorism and erode their own conditions further by welcoming gangs, drugs, and cartels deserve prison (or my 'cruel' idea of forced labor) just for seeking a chemical high?
The answer is obvious, or perhaps I'm too young to comprehend that money and effort spent selfishly destroying a community for a temporary high couldn't possibly be better spent towards its betterment.
Is it normal to want criminal punishment be more draconian?
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1. People are wrongly convicted every day.
2. People are being held captive in prison for breaking laws that don't protect anyone.
3. Racism, sexism and religious fanaticism all contribute to who gets convicted of crimes in this country.
When I was a child, I thought the same as you. But now, I can see that this is a MUCH more complex issue. I would assume that you are young (perhaps very young) and don't really understand that, for many people, crime is perceived to be the only way to survive. In areas where poverty is widespread (such as pretty much everywhere in the USA), young people feel that they must turn to illegal activities to support themselves. These poor people are the bulk of the current incarcerated population--and unfortunately they are disproportionately PEOPLE OF COLOR. This is incredibly unfair since the conditions that these human beings were brought up in were not exactly conducive to following the law. I have been to inner city areas where I literally had to ask the question, "If these people could feel good for just 5 minutes, then WHY WOULDN'T THEY????" Most people in prisons are there for drug offenses. So I ask you, if someone in the ghetto could feel good for five minutes while smoking crack, then why wouldn't they? Do they deserve prison (or your cruel idea of forced labor camps) just for trying to find relief? No. I don't think so.
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1 Wrongly convicted people still suffer at the hands of the current western justice system. They are thrown into overcrowded prisons, are raped, and mistreated. If the injustice is discovered it is impossible to calculate just compensation as the degree of their suffering cannot be accurately measured by the inefficient system that allows such barbarism to take place. Modern sciences are advancing and the likelihood of wrongly convicting someone is growing ever slimmer. Besides, even in a more efficient system the opportunity for appeals and pardons would still be provided.
2 When I speak of crime, I speak of willful action that causes harm to another person or property. Consensual Crime therefore does not fall under that definition, and should not be included for the intents and purposes of my question. Thus consensual criminals would be corrected if salvageable rather than punished, and humanely euthanized if not.
3 If one is not content with the laws and customs of their society, they are by no means forced to live there, and should leave. If they are forced to reside in their country then the penal system is no doubt effective and efficient enough, and thus streamlining it further should be the least of that nation's concerns. That is why revolt and revolution exists, so that unjust governments and regimes may be toppled.
To address your other concerns:
Age does not imply intelligence, wisdom, or experience, nor does lack of age imply the absence of such. Alexander the Great was little more than a youth when his reign started while the USA's president Bush was an old man when he took power. Am I to believe that the older man was a better, more capable leader simply because of how long he had lived? Flawed logic my friend, I have lived more in my 21 years than some of my fellow countrymen have lived in twice that.
Drug use indirectly causes harm if the user resorts to true crime such at theft or assault in order to obtain their next high. The purchase and use of illegal drugs also DIRECTLY encourages, enables and finances drug cartels, drug production, smuggling, gangs, syndicates, gang violence, turf wars, and endangers law enforcement officials who must actively fight such forces. If one purchases methamphetamine or cocaine, they are in effect supporting a form of terrorism. They deserve no special treatment or consideration.
Poverty, while a breeding ground for crime, does not excuse it. I myself was destitute for a time, living in a tent and eating only what the government's public schools provided free of charge. I am sure a powerful nation like the USA has a similar program. However, during my poverty, I did not resort to crime of any kind. I was raised to respect the laws of my country and the teachings of my God. If there are those raised to disregard civilized values, then I shall shed no tears if it falls to the Government or ruling party to correct them. It is not as if they never had the opportunity to learn proper human decency or morality.
If an impoverished person mistakenly sees crime as the only means of sustaining themselves or their dependents, then forced labor can hardly be considered cruel, as they would be provided shelter and food while earning their own keep like every other productive member of society. The children would also benefit as wards of the state or ruling party, being provided with food, shelter, education, and correct morality.
So, do drug users who by their habit finance terrorism and erode their own conditions further by welcoming gangs, drugs, and cartels deserve prison (or my 'cruel' idea of forced labor) just for seeking a chemical high?
The answer is obvious, or perhaps I'm too young to comprehend that money and effort spent selfishly destroying a community for a temporary high couldn't possibly be better spent towards its betterment.