The Hypocrisy of the Uncivilized
Everybody is always “up in arms” about our 2nd Amendment Rights, literally and figuratively, but where is the dialogue concerning the 8th Amendment Rights? It states everyone has a right to be free of cruel and unusual punishment. And how about that pesky 13th Amendment, that allows slavery if convicted of a crime? Just like Bible worshippers, Constitution worshippers like to be selective about what parts they practice/praise and what parts they ignore, but claim all is sacred.
How many people have a problem with prison rape, which is pervasive in our nation’s prisons and jails? How many people have a problem with children being sentenced to die in prison? Did you know, USA is the only country that gives children life without parole sentences, and that it is specifically banned in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child? How about the fact that 885 people died in prison/jail in 2011? Or the 346 that died in Florida prisons alone in 2014? How about the fact that there are states who keep people incarcerated to provide cheap/free labor not only for themselves but for private corporations too? After the passage of prop 47 in California late last year (which was going to result with the release of thousands of low-level, non-violent offenders), the state vocalized concern over how they would manage their wild-fire season because it depends so heavily on prison labor. Both prison rape, death and torture in prison, and life without parole sentences for children are a violation of the 8th Amendment, but I don’t see many folks giving it the attention it deserves. And I am not sure what person (assuming they are civilized) thinks slavery should be allowed in any form.
Text from 13th Amendment: Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Where’s the conversation on this?