Posted by come on on May 07, 2007 at 02:17:56 (EST):
In Reply to: Re: Are any of the candidates for judge posted by wake up on May 06, 2007 at 21:16:25 (EST):
: : : : : : Are any of the candidates for judge talking about what can be done about the crime and drug problems? Are any of them even acknowledging that there is a crime and drug problem?
: : : : : All they do is sentence them someone else has to apprehend them. Everyone knows there is a drug problem but no one here or nationwide has a answer. Think maybe crime and drug might be related??
: : : : Yes, but how a judge sentences and whether probation and rehabilitation programs the courts (probation dept) offer are effective have a lot to do with judges. Probation dept. is under the judges, not the commissioners. Candidates should be talking about this.
: : : I am sure they all will say we are going to be strict with offenders but the, sentences are specific to each case, they won't know that until the case is tried, it won't be discussed as a voting issue
: : Of course they will all take the position that they will be tough on crimes and do what they can to clean up the drug problem. Unfortunately, it is all political posturing. The "war on drugs" is a hot button issue but it is quite honestly a war that has already been lost. We didn't learn from prohibition from alcohol. A lot of tax payer money is being wasted! We should be most concerned about prosecuting those who violate the rights of others. You do that and you should pay. If people want to waste their lives on drugs, sitting in their own living room and getting high, why spend the money and resources to wage war on them? If they get in their car and drive, steal to support their habit, hurt someone else in any way - yea, go after them. decriminalize drugs and a lot of the crime will go away. Our state sells us alcohol. Alcohol is a drug. Therefore, there is a drug that has already been decriminalized. People who choose to drink can do so legally.
: : Any how, I guess my whole point in all of this is that voting for someone based on their "get tough on drugs" stance is just a wasted vote really. However, if someone was to take the stance that they will hold every individual accountable for their own choices and behaviors, and that anyone violating someone elses rights will pay the price, I could vote for that person. Just don't blow smoke up our asses by telling us that the drug task force is actually doing anything worth the money spent on them and that they will stop the flow of drugs. It aint gonna happen! Arrest one and another steps in to take over til the first one bails out of jail and goes right back to the same thing. I can't even belive that people continue to fall for that crap. Every election time arrests go up but they tell us the timing is just a coincidence? Yea right. It works for them, they get the votes and the funding and stay in power and people feel good knowing that they voted for the guy that is hard on drug offenders.
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: exactly right bmac. and the judge is not going to be able to do anything if the da keeps making the pleas with the repeat offenders.
Oh, come on. Why does everything go back to the DA with you? Scott Andreassi isn't King of Armstrong County.
In case you didn't know, plea bargains have to go before the judge, and the judge has to ACCEPT the plea bargain, so yes, there is something a judge can do. How about rejecting ridiculous plea bargains?
I guess the real question is why we're getting mail from candidates for judge who don't even MENTION the drug problem, or the increase in crime due to drugs. Just fluff about their "second floor office" and "quiet professionalism" (read: obscurity) and pictures with their families and dog.
Why is it that nobody's saying, hey, it seems our approach isn't working--perhaps we should try something else.
Probably because they're all (or most of them anyway) a part of the go-along-to-get-along group of Armstrong County lawyers who are more concerned about their position in society than making a difference.