Over the time since the Brandon Administration has thrown our Southern Border open, and what has followed, the recurring assault on the US Citizen reared its ugly head again when the sympathizers on the left returned to their mantras on “Criminal Justice Reform”, “Systemic Racism” and “Black Lives Matter”. As if it’s a vampire who can never be killed, the refrains of “The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world” are again being heard echoed across the media, and by leftist politicians. Then they also rail against the “racial inequality” of those who are incarcerated. And they say that they plan to do whatever is necessary to fix it. But I have yet to hear any of them say how? Or even ask the bigger question, “Why does this situation exist in the Country with by far the greatest personal freedom on Earth?”
Could it be caused by the fact that the United States grand design for a civil society is based on personal responsibility? Since it is historical fact that all of God’s children are given free will to do what is right, or what is wrong. Could our high incarceration rate be the result of our God-given Constitutional protections of the individual’s right to exercise this free will? Would the efforts of ANY political action to alter or reduce this incarceration rate include the “necessary” restriction of individual freedoms? As a society, do we want to use the power of government to restrict individual freedom? Maybe we need to look at this a little deeper.
As we examine this subject, an old saying comes to mind, “To those who much is given, much is expected.” We The People in the United States are given more personal freedom, and in turn, more expected personal responsibility, than those living under any other system of government in the World. As a civilized people, we have a right to expect our fellow residents to accept that they should live up to their responsibility to be civilized, and if they choose to not accept that responsibility, then they should expect to suffer the consequences. And as a free Society, we see the loss or restriction of a violator’s personal freedom to be the proper punishment for choosing to not act responsibly. We see that the removal of the threat to other’s freedom as the most humane way to protect the majority of our Society. And we have also learned that, by placing a repeat, or extremely violent, offender in long-term incarceration, we best protect those who are civilized from harm.
So notice that this works very well without restricting the personal freedom of “the masses”, only by restricting the personal freedoms of those individuals who act irresponsibly against their fellow residents. Again, their incarceration is strictly the result of the individual offender using their personal freedom to act in a way, which we as a Society, have determined to be unacceptable. It must be recognized that we are not causing the restricting their freedom through incarceration; as their incarceration is the result of them abusing their own personal freedom.
Taking all of this in account, is there any possible way that any government action, can alter or reduce our current incarceration rate, without imposing some reduction or restrictions on the personal freedom of the overwhelming majority of the residents of the United States? In a word, the answer is “NO”. Is there any government action that has proven to be able to alter the behavior of lawless residents, who abuse their personal freedom, any better than restricting or removing the individual offender’s personal freedom? Again, in a word, the answer is “NO”. So as you are starting to consider how any action by the government, at any level, can alter or reduce our “out of control” incarceration rates, understand that they will be doing something that will necessarily reduce your personal freedom. And then we hope you will choose to use your personal freedom to NOT support someone’s theory who is telling you that part of their plan is to restrict or remove some of your personal freedom of choice.
God Bless America!! And America, Please Bless God Again!!
