Amongst other things (including miserable turnout for the election that nobody knew was happening, nor what we would be voting for) there is a current kafuffle about people in prison being allowed to vote or not. Of course the right wing blowhards (as opposed to left wing curmudgeons) are spluttering in rightoeus indignation about the Court of Human Justice in europe telling the UK government what to do. Also a bunch of knee-jerk reactions about criminals losing their freedom and also their right to vote because they did a bad thing. Here are my thoughts on the topic:
1. Why should people in jail not vote? They will be released at some point, and many of them within the term of a government. They therefore have the right to a vote on which government that is. Solution: at the least, any person in jail with less than 5 years to serve (including likely parole) should be allowed to vote.
2. What about engagement in life outside prison as a component of re-integration once the sentence is over? Encouraging prisoners to think about life and society can only be a good idea. Conversely, telling them they have no say can only be alienating and that is not a good thing.
3. What about somebody who has been wrongly convicted? That person has, through no fault of their own, been disenfranchised for the period of their incarceration. That is illegal by any definition and any government which commits that crime should be immediately removed from office and that political party be not permited to promote candidates for election to any level of public service for a period of 5 years.
As usual, feel free to disagree.
A random collection of musing on topics which annoy me. I am old, gone to seed, know what is a cumerbund and like to wear one while sitting in my armchair by the fire, drinking port and fulminating. I consider gout to be an occupational hazzard.
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