Tuesday, October 17, 2017
The justice system makes people criminals
As we've been studying both the court cases and the documentaries about race and privilege, a fact that I have thought about for a while has become more and more evident. We have a justice system that makes people criminals. A man who lives in complete poverty and is unemployed, has no way of paying for the speeding tickets he is given on a regular basis. The homeless man who has no family or friends has no one to help him when someone decides to blame him for something he didn't do just because it's convenient. What choice do theses people have? If you have to feed your family AND pay for the tickets, you have a choice between not paying them and going to jail (and thus being unable to take care of your family) or obtaining the money somehow. How are you going to get the money? In an impoverished neighborhood there's always going to be crime. Maybe offer to sell some drugs, just for a little while, so you'll have enough to pay that ticket. But then you get arrested for distribution and possession. Now you're in the arrest and facing jail. And that ticket still isn't paid. And your family is waiting for you to come home with dinner.
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That's the main flaw with the American system right now. Those who have the privilege of coming from a family with money, or those who got lucky somehow in life and made a bunch of money doesn't have to turn to drugs or crime to make ends meet. Someone who has money doesn't have to worry about where the money for college is gonna come from. Someone with a bunch of money can afford to hire a tutor that can get them through high school and college, and finally, people with money can reap the full benefits of the justice system.
ReplyDeleteThat's just the unfortunate way the American system works unfortunately. How we should fix it, or whether or not it has to be fixed is up for debate, but honestly, take a look at this and think "What would I want if I was in this situation".
This got a bit rambly, but I honestly think that the justice system is indicative of the main flaw of the American system.
I agree with Brian's comment that people who come from families with money have a lot more opportunities. But the people who come from low income families may need to resort to drugs to support their family. So the rich are able to pay their way and open up doors for them.
ReplyDeleteI think that this post has a lot of truth behind it, and I definitely agree with it. The system is rigged.
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