Is it reasonable to let criminals vote while they are incarcerated? y or y not??
148266
When you say the necessary requirements do you mean that as long as they are not felons (since felons cannot vote period)? Well either way, yes and no. Obviously there are many criminals out there that do not care about the country's ethics and they abuse it over and over over. Those criminals should never be allowed to vote. On the other hand, there are those that are truly reformed and deserve a chance to be an upstanding citizen again. For example, if someone has a record for protesting the war and starting chaos for a good cause, then he/she is hardly a menace to society. Over time that person can mature and learn to channel his/her views in a positive. That doesn't mean they should not be allowed to vote. On the hand, a criminal who has raped, killed, committed hate crimes against different races, etc. should NOT be able to--especially if they are repeat offenders.
895157
it needs conscious voting not the rules there are many rules which were bent and broken and often modified by those criminals fot their purpose. the power lies in us voters change it forever. it need education moral values in people those who vote, that may come on one day i waitig for that. hpe it will come soon
934289
I think yes some will try,but I agree with the other poster,most did not register or were unable to register.\nMost are not knowingly committing a crime if the try to vote.Because they are being misled by either a party or a friend.The Democratic party is misleading a lot of the illegals by making promises they will not,.can not keep.\nThere will be voter fraud I'm sure and out cry that illegals did vote..Perhaps in some way it may help to change our system of voting, to ensure its not been influenced by the \npeople who are supposed to be protecting our honest/legal vote.The voting machines are fraught with problems and are ripe with the opportunity to commit crimes against the voting public.No one that is an illegal alien in this country should have a legal drivers license .That's just wrong..If they are illegal then arrest them and deport them ,do not reward them by giving them a legal document that enables them to get more legal documents.\nI am disgusted with the way some states officials think/act about this problem.(the republican party is also filled with lies and promises they will not keep to the Hispanic voter)
436491
Is there a 'right' to vote? Or should we take a different view and argue that it is a 'privilege' to vote? Let's see.\n\nIf voting is a 'right', especially if you call it a 'civil right' then by definition it can not be taken away. Rights can not be lost, for then they would not be 'rights'. Privileges can be lost (ask any teenager!), but not rights. Also, 'rights' belong to everyone equally, so if you have any rules about voting, it can not be a 'right'. Many countries have a minimum voting age. Well, since many countries are filled with convicted criminals that can not vote, as well as underage people that can not vote, voting can not be legally considered a 'right'.\n\nWell then, it is a privilege? If so, there are rules on earning it and on losing it. How does one 'earn' the privilege to vote? Is it by being a landowner? Is it by being born male, or by being old enough? How old is old enough? Is it 18 or 21 years of age?\n\nDo any of these rules, or the many other ones tried by countries over the centuries ensure quality voters? Many of us know people of voting age that are just plain, well, not intelligent voters. We also know people too young to vote that are very careful and intelligent about casting their vote. I know dumb landowners and intelligent renters. If you want to call voting a privilege, I assure you that any line you draw for people to cross in order to 'earn' that privilege will be a flawed line. I offer you the argument that voting is not a privilege.\n\nVoting in political elections is not a right, nor is it a privilege. Then what is it? I contend that it is a grave responsibility. Those that do not agree, should not be allowed to vote. Those that do agree, should be allowed to vote. They should strive hard to make 'informed' decisions which are best for them in the long-term.
155529
Its not illegal...\nIt maybe illegal in the US and thats because of voting for the wrong people
960994
The debate seems to me to be about making a decision whether to let people who knowingly and willingly break our laws be rewarded for their violations.  This is a pretty senseless debate, and it hinges on one idea:  if enough people chose to break the law should the law be changed to legalize their actions?  So if one person breaks a law that is one thing and the person is legitimately guilty and should be punished, but if 5 million people break the same law are they not just as guilty?  Should the punishment not be the same as if one person broke the law?\n\nLook at it another way:  if enough people go out and rob banks does this mean bank robbery should be legalized?  And while we are debating this, should we give special privileges to bank robbers already in custody?\n\nThis is what the debate is really all about, and while self-serving politicians try to conjure up ways to get more votes from non-citizens, there should be NO additional advantages given to illegal Mexican immigrants who just happen to have approval of Mexican officials to enter the US illegally.   This thing has to be settled first  or the problems will ripple all the way up to the head of the line.
962364
An interesting question and opinion!\n\nHowever, folk in mental hospitals usually cannot think for themselves!  Folk in jail are presumed to be criminals and thus, do not think for themselves!\n\nThe rest of your opinion is interesting and deserves more evaluation!  However, by law, they have not commited a crime!  Thus, they should be allowed to vote in an election!\n\nYes, their votes may be tainted, but aren't all of ours?  We want what is best for ourselves, the heck with the rest!  Since when do "we" consider the wellbeing of others?  Okay, now and then, some of us do!  But, all in all, we vote what is best for us, as we come first!\n\nCan you honestly disagree?\n\nJust MHO,\n\nHope this helps,\n\nThe Ol' Sasquatch Ü
209344
I'm finding that I enjoy your questions quite a bit ProfessorAdam.  Now on to the question:\n\nBipolar justifying a crime? No.  It does not hinder your ability to think and comprehend what you are doing to that extent....often.  Having a manic episode can in fact impair that ability, but as an excuse no.  If you wish to send the individual to a mental institution to get help then by all means do so.\n\nAs a mental health professional (I use the term professional lightly as I'm just starting my career), I've found that we tend to invision Mental health issues as we see them in movies when that is far from the truth.  Most of the people I work with just want to get "better", to stop the stares that people give them, to be what we consider "normal".  There are those who have given up and will descend into insanity but they give up because no one helps them.\n\nOne thing that disturbs me the most is when a person with a mental illness is arrested and taking into custody, they are treated as if they can comprehend everything perfectly.  In a lot of places they are just thrown into jails for crimes rather than sent to an institution that will keep them out of jails and on track to having a "normal" life.  We waste tax money locking these people up.  And as a side note, they aren't stupid.  A lot of mentally ill people will commit a crime to get locked up for a night, it brings the promise of a warm cell and meals with impending freedom the next day (Small crimes, like public drunkeness).\n\nSo back to the question at hand, should it justify a crime? Never, should it be an explanation for the crime? Sometimes, that depends on the illness.  Should we just toss those individuals into a cell? Never, we should react and help them to allow to become a part of society, rather than a person thrown to the side.
1108737
Prisons should be terrible places where nobody wants to go but you better remember that most of the people who go in there get out at some point. \nThat is why you don't want to shamelessly brutalize them, and you want to provide them with the opportunity to correct and better themselves.  That way maybe there is a chance they might get out and go straight, not be a worse criminal than they were when they went in.
472543
I actually can´t give you a why NOT , If a person is brave enough to commit ADULT like crimes then they should be tried like adult criminals making exemptions will only make them think they can do whatever they want and keep on with a bad behavior and become worse , like here teens under 16 can not go to jail indeed they do whatever they please. a young criminal (26) said he would have prefered to have a severe punishment earlier so he would have learned his lesson now he can be proud of having a large criminal history from drugs to murder.
585754
When you truly feel the way you voted was fair, and within the Law. Most people don't realize that as a juror you really do have to go by the Laws and Penal Codes that are already set as to what the judgment might turn out to be. When a person is sentenced, it has to be "beyond a reasonable doubt", hands down, and I don't think that happens all the time.....
1097642
i agree with eye for an eye, the only downside is if they are innocent then they are being punished for no reason, then again innocent people get executed even in our society... some people have been executed only to find out later that they truly were innocent... if the crime was prooven then yes I think thats what should be done!
420721
I agree with DBK.  Prisons should be a punishment for what the criminals did.  How is it really punishing them to give them free food, free clothing, free cable, free Internet, a free gym, free medical and dental care, etc?  And to not require them to work?  How are they punished when they spend their days lounging around, or playing football in the yard, working out in the gym, or kicking back watching movies?  Sounds more like a vacation to me.\n\nBut back to the question.  Criminals are able to do this because liberal in society have set it up so they can. They set it up so that people can claim they are not responsible for their own actions. As for the poor excuse about criminals being abused, my mother's father was abusive to her, and to her brothers and sisters, and not one of them became criminals.  I was physically, mentally and emotionally abused in catholic school and did not turn out to be a criminal.  So that is just another lame excuse.
474772
My opinion is that if people r put in prison, some may just come of with an even worse attitude than they had when they went in. Look at recidivism rates.......
607420
Though this isn't a question, I decided to comment.\n\nFor the most part I agree. Yes if you are anywhere illegally it would only make sense that you should be placed back where your are legally allowed to be. And as for our government they don't want to go along with that because it would make them unfavorable to the illegal immigrant vote. Wait did I just say the illegal immigrant vote? Yes...the politicians are worried they won't be voted in by people who can't vote anyway (or shouldn't, though I know fraudulent ID goes a long way).\n\nLaws however are drawn up by use of an underlying moral code. Why is it illegal to murder, rape or rob someone? Because morally it is incorrect. Morally it is correct to believe someone belongs in their own country unless they are given legal permission to be in another country.\n\nLegal permission is the whole point of the matter, I don't care if you want to come to America and make money, by all means do it, this is the land of opportunity. Just check-in on your way across the border. It really shouldn't be so difficult to make sure we are letting people with pure intentions cross over on to our side of the border. If this means you will have to fill out a form, be fingerprinted, and questioned, so be it. It is to all of our benefits to make sure this happens, we don't want to let the wrong person (Terrorists for example) across our borders to kill us (American citizens) and you (the immigrant who is here to cash in legally on America's boundless oppertunities).
115073
Good point, and yet another flaw in our voting process. I would suggest that all voters would have to take a simple test, whether they understand the workings of our government (unbiased ?'s like "How many people on the Supreme Court", or "Name the governor of your state").\n\nTrouble is, voting tests are often associated with the biased "literacy tests" in the South, to make sure blacks couldn't vote. So this idea, while interesting, is unlikely to go anywhere for a while.
807159
I agree. People who dont vote should keep their mouths shut.