Proposition 5 - Nonviolent Drug Offenses. Sentencing, Parole and Rehabilitation. Initiative Statute.
13 October 2008‘THINK FOR ME, SPACE KIMCHI!’ VOTE: YES
If I’m understanding this proposition correctly, this eases up a bit on sentencing in non-violent drug crimes and provides for some rehab support. The war on drugs has been stupid and costly, and even if you’re strongly anti-drug, you MUST recognize that locking up a bunch of druggies in a room with nothing better to do for months on end is a pretty horrible idea when it comes to actually solving this issue. Better rehabilitation to avoid the “revolving door” and to actually, you know, reform people and turn them into productive members of society is kind-of-sort-of our obligation as civilized people.
Looking at the official arguments and rebuttals, the people for it are judges, prison wardens, drug treatment specialists, and you know, people who actually know a thing or two about this issue. The people against it are MADD who are a bunch of insane reactionaries, as well-meaning as they may be. I’ve been told by many people who have been some part of our prison system that those who work with it have a far better idea of how to help and fix it than those who have never had much exposure to it. As a sheltered whitey, I’m taking that advice and voting with the people who seem to know what they’re doing on this one.
