Crime and Punishment

This is gonna sound crazy to those of you that are crazy. But here goes…I believe there must be a victim to be a crime. Crazy huh? I would only amend this rule by saying that those below age 18 or deemed mentally retarded are exceptions (for children’s rapists etc).

Other than that, there must be a victim for there to be crime. That means…if you do drugs and don’t steal, you are immune. If you drive drunk and don’t cause property damage or personal damage, that’s right, you are immune. If you sell drugs to those over 18 and not mentally retarded, that’s right, it’s legal.

Whew! I know it’s a lot to dissect but let’s try. If it just pisses you off that your spouse is drunk or high on drugs, guess what no crime. If you cross the yellow line while driving high or drunk, guess what, no crime.

I say all of this in the spirit of saving money for our country for real things such as poverty, hunger and those types of insignificant things including social security. Let me elaborate…

There are studies that suggest that over 70% of all individuals incarcerated relate to either, drugs, DUI or prostitution. Now break that down, over 12 BILLION dollars a year is spent on the war against drugs. This war started with President Nixon and his classification of drugs. This is ONLY drugs, not prostitution or DUI. On DUI there is approximately (no one knows for sure) another 5 BILLION spent on trying to catch those driving over the yellow line. The additional funds for police officers and state patrol on New Years, St Patricks Day, Labor Day and 4th of July actually total more than this, but use it as a general figure.

I can think of a multitude of other projects to use these funds. Not to mention the revenue the country would get if you made now illegal drugs legal. For instance, the tourist dollars..enormous! The money now available to feed our own starving people; funds now available for defense against Al Quaida and the Taleiban; money now available to help our wounded soldiers; create jobs; healthcare; save small businesses ( a bailout if you will) for those small businesses that create over 60% of all new jobs. This is only the beginning of what we could use all of those BILLIONS for.

Now ask yourself…Would you use drugs or drive drunk or prostitute yourself if it was legal? The answer, probably not if you don’t already. Why? It is not in your nature. Doing drugs, driving drunk come with addictions or seldom occurrences, not a daily habit. The legalization of these things does NOT make them more prevalent, it just makes them legal. You won’t become a prostitute because it is legal nor will you become a drug addict or a full blown drunk. You either are or aren’t these things. However, we could all use a tax break and health insurance that we don’t have to pay for.

It’s just plain mathematics and human tendency. Currently our system punishes those that do little more than punish themselves. Don’t get me wrong…if there is a victim, then there is a crime in which you must be punished. But the key is there must be a victim, abusing yourself does not constitute a crime.