This past January, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm suggested that the state begin an early prison release program for certain nonviolent offenders as a way to trim the state's overburdened budget. While the proposal received support from legislators on both sides of the aisle, it also received considerable opposition from law enforcement officials, state prosecutors and the public.
At first I thought, "Wow, things really have gotten so bad in Michigan, that we have to let the prisoners go early!?"
After discussing the news with my husband he countered, "That's exactly what they want you to think, and I don't believe it for a second."
What I immediately recognized is that I was duped by the oldest trick in the political book! Namely, that whether or not Granholm decides to start releasing criminals early is not the issue. The threat of their release is just as powerful a political motivator as their actual release. Keeping citizens in a constant state of fear is every successful politician's goal, and Granholm is doing a fine job with this idea. But we should not fall for it.
"Release them," I say! I'm in full support. Let 'em all out. Why? She probably won't do it. She may release a few drug dealers who never should have ended up in jail anyway and leave the really hardened criminals in jail where they belong. But what she is undoubtedly hoping for is a flurry of support for increased taxes and unsustainable government spending schemes ostensibly for public safety.
There is significant debate about George W. Bush's WMDs, but one thing is certain: the ensuing threats to national security launched us into endless war. This tells us that whether or not the threat is perceived or real, it does not matter, the result will be the same for those in power: more power to them.
2 Comments:
I'm curious to see what you are thinking...