Posted on 02/11/2010 5:39:08 PM PST by csd
I agree with you, cripplecreek.
I’m a clean ex-felon and consider myself a pretty good conservative.
Some people are just ignorant and narrow-minded.
His natural constituency.
Precisely.
Understandable. The felons in particular may know a trick or three to add to the vote count of their candidate.
None of their "second chance," however, should cost the taxpayers a dime.
I spent 4 years in prison over something I shouldn't have done. I can assure you that you wouldn't think twice about me handling your money, your family, or your church duties. Your assumption that all men who have once broken the law are untrustworthy is just silly.
Christ didn't treat the publicans and sinners that way did he? Paul was guilty of murdering Christians. Matthew was a tax collector/thief at the time. The thieves on the cross were forgiven on the spot, would you have refused to associate with them when Jesus said they were forgiven?
When your Christianity doesn't forgive it's worthless. We all have sinned. We all have come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, NO NOT ONE. That means you too my friend. For you to pompously sit in judgment of men who have done wrong, paid their price, and are trying to go straight just nullifies any Christianity you think you possess.
Don't worry, there are 1000'S of men out there just like me who have a record and you don't know it. Fortunately you are WRONG. We are ok to associate with. Despite what people like you say.
By the way, getting hired after the fact is not impossible, it just takes a little proving of yourself. How about you admitting you are not and never will be perfect and stop looking down your nose at men who have been caught, and are still valuable in God's eyes even if you are too good for them.
Thank you for correcting me. I just slammed someone else who didn’t think the same. I too was convicted once and did 4 years in prison. I can assure you that no one would know the difference. Keep on keeping on friend.
No problem, I know the post title wasn’t clear. Anyways, glad to here that you have gotten your life together, sometimes it can be tough, but if you really put the effort in anything is possible in America
You might agree with my post #66.
Hey, I’m not saying I’ve made no mistakes.
But the fact is, most companies and people are less likely to hire somebody knowing that they have a criminal history. If I knew you, maybe I’d hire you. If all I knew about you was that you were in prison I’d be less likely to do so. You may well be an extremely trustworthy person, but the question remains - what, in general, can be done to help felons get back into productive society?
Agreed Christians ought to be forgiving and all, but can the government ban corporations from discriminating against people who have been arrested or convicted? I’m asking for ideas here, not saying everybody who’s been behind bars is forever a horrible person.
For nonviolent offenders, I’d be willing to consider giving a second chance on a case by case basis. Mistakes happen and sometimes otherwise decent people do stupid things.
But for those who have committed violent crimes like armed assault, armed robbery, rape or a whole litany of vicious crimes... Never. They have forfeit any claim to compassion or consideration.
I don’t mind second chances, it’s the footing the bill part that irritates me. People deserve as many chances as they can scrape up on their own without my money.
I agree, sex offenders and excessively violent offenders are a different breed, than drug offenders and other non violent offenders
I admit the practice of the rule is harder than the idea of it. I believe you should not be able to use someone's criminal history against them if it is not directly related to the job they are applying for. It would be almost impossible to enforce but it would be a start. Those convicted of sex crimes could not work with children, those convicted of frauds would not be eligible to work as fiduciaries or with money.
We convict men of crimes, put them in jail for those crimes and then when they get out we refuse to hire them for any sort of job and wonder why they reoffend. Its not that I do not understand the concerns, I probably understand more than most, but we can not have it both ways. Either they can work or we just need to expect them to be criminals.
Thank you for asking. I get sick of the pompous bravado that many have. Once in college I was sitting by a young conservative who idolized me but did not know I had been to prison. We were in a poli sci class where the Professor knew me very well and knew I had been to prison over the Iran/Contra scandal. This kid beside me said, "Prisons! We shouldn't even have them, we should shut prisoners up inside and burn them down." The professor looked at me and truly "got it." Many conservatives have the same egotistical attitude until it is them or their family who are in prison.
Your recovery on the topic is admirable.
I don’t know - I agree that criminal history is given too much weight, especially non-addict drug users or guys who were just in a scuffle. I do think that poeple have the right to hire who they wish, even though that may be unfair in some cases.
FWIW, I have family who criminal records and are now productive citizens. For them starting their own company was the best option.
Fortunately I was always a conservative entrepreneur and I never wanted to do anything but run my own company!
Show that you’re responsible. Take an entry level job or worse. Show up every day..on time...ready to work...with a good attitude.
I’ve never been convicted of a felony, and I have done some very very nasty work for just above minimum wage for the money to pay my bills.
Exactly!
I do have a record and did a little time. And when I got out, I had to start all over. I was a construction laborer, a sandwich maker, and did piecework in a factory. I did any job I could, and made minimum wage just about most of the time.
I also went to school at night (paid my own way), didn't spend money on hardly anything, and lived an honest life.
That was 22 years ago, and I haven't been in trouble since. Don't know how others measure success, but I have home, a truck, and a wonderful family. And with apologies to Lou Gehrig, I consider myself to be one of the luckiest guys on the face of the earth.
Yes, I believe most definitely they do deserve a second chance.
I believe due process in law should include full restoration of rights in all but the most heinous of crimes once the debt to society is fulfilled
This position has come over time with the realization that laws have deemed more and more crimes as felonies. I can see a future where jay-walking may be a felony. There are laws today that make a person guilty of a felony if that person issued a racial slur at a driver while jay-walking. I believe that restoration of all rights is the right way to administer due process and maintain respect for the laws.
"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws." - Tacitus, Roman Senator and Historian (A.D. c.56 - c. 115)
You’ve done well.
There is simply no excuse for anyone who is a convict to commit more crimes nor wallow in self pity. You’ve proven that by hard work and responsibility you can achieve anything.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.