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Doesn’t it seem like almost everything is becoming a crime in America now? Americans are being arrested and charged with crimes for doing things like leaving dog poop on the ground, opening up Christmas presents early, not recycling properly, farting in class and having brown lawns
But is it healthy for our society for the police to be involved in such silly things? Every single day the United States inches closer to becoming a totalitarian society.
While there are some that would welcome this shift, the truth is that throughout history the societies that have experienced the greatest economic prosperity have all had at least a certain level of freedom. Business thrives when people feel free to live and work. When a government tightens the grip too much many people just start shutting down. Just look at places like North Korea. Even though the rest of the world is sending them huge amounts of food starvation is still quite common in that totalitarian regime.
That is why it is so disturbing that it seems like almost everything has become a crime in America now. As we continue to criminalize relatively normal behavior our slide toward becoming a totalitarian state will only accelerate. We are throwing anyone and everyone in prison these days. It is getting absolutely ridiculous. Today, the United States leads the world in the number of prisoners and in the percentage of the population in prison. The United States has 5% of the world’s population, but approximately 25% of the world’s incarcerated population. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, as of the end of 2009 a total of 7,225,800 people were either on probation, in prison or on parole in America. That is a sign of a very, very sick society. Either we have a massive crime problem or the “control grid” that our leaders have erected for us is wildly out of control.
Helmut Griese, 63, was found guilty of “ridiculing” their religious beliefs and fined nearly £700 by a court in Graz. Rather than face a protracted court case, with all its attendant legal costs, Mr Griese agreed to pay. The court heard how the Muslim family regarded Mr Griese as a “grumpy old man” whose open-air Alpine chanting was intended as a taunt aimed at their religion. The retiree was accused trying to “mock and imitate” the call of the Muezzin, who calls the faithful for prayer in mosques. They alleged that he always began his yodelling just as they knelt down to pray.
Originally posted by Erongaricuaro
People don't want the government telling them who they can and cannot have arrested and for what. As most here seem to agree, there is a standard of behavior expected in the leading free country of the world and if you cannot keep your lawn green you must pay the piper. Being free doesn't mean there is no cost. Everyone must toe the line. Prisons are not being built just to be kept empty. By God, this is America!edit on 28-12-2010 by Erongaricuaro because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by InvisibleAlbatross
reply to post by Haydn_17
The Far East would be China, Japan, Korea. Muslims often come from the Middle East, but I was unable to determine if the men from the article were born in Switzerland or if they were immigrants.
And no, you cannot do something that disturbs someone else's freedoms. It would be unlawful to sing the Star Spangled Banner at the top of your lungs outside a mosque. Or any building for that matter. Since the man in question sang right when the Muslims began their prayers, more than once, it's pretty easy to see that he is simply trying to upset them. Ergo, he is a douche.
Originally posted by Erongaricuaro
Originally posted by CaptChaos
Originally posted by Erongaricuaro
People don't want the government telling them who they can and cannot have arrested and for what. As most here seem to agree, there is a standard of behavior expected in the leading free country of the world and if you cannot keep your lawn green you must pay the piper. Being free doesn't mean there is no cost. Everyone must toe the line. Prisons are not being built just to be kept empty. By God, this is America!edit on 28-12-2010 by Erongaricuaro because: (no reason given)
Holy Cow, I thought this was a joke at first, but I think you really mean it! Welcome to the machine......
Prisons are being built to make money. That's it. Arresting people for nothing allows them to charge money for it, get it? It's all about the money, nothing else. Money is your god. Somehow it costs fifty grand a year of taxpayer money per prisoner, but I don't think they're feeding them lobsters and caviar.
You were right the first time. This was my second failed attempt at ironic humor today that fell flat. With this one I posted from a friend's house and had to rush it at the final moment and apparently forgot the irony. The other was more ironic but perhaps just not funny.
I left the US because of such reasons. Things here south of the border can get chaotic at times but that seems to be the price you have to pay for more personal freedom. Believe me, it is worth the price. I may never cross the border again if I can help it.
Sorry about the confusion and poor post of mine. I give you a star for telling me straight.edit on 28-12-2010 by Erongaricuaro because: (no reason given)