Thursday, December 30, 2010

Obama and the Michael Vick controversy


In undergraduate school at Mankato State University in Mankato, Minn., I once took a course in which we studied the causes of recidivism of convicted criminals who served their sentences and failed in their attempts to fit back into normal life.

The inability to find a job was a major reason that many ex-convicts soon returned to jail.

That class back in the 1970s came to mind the other day when President Obama called Philadelphia Eagles’ owner Jeffrey Lurie to congratulate him for signing quarterback Michael Vick who had just served a jail sentence for running a dog-fighting business. Obama expressed gratitude to Lurie for giving Vick a second chance.

The president has since received a barrage of criticism for supporting Vick. But even though I’ve never been a big fan of Obama, I’m with him on this one. If we live in a country where it’s not possible to pay your debt to society, correct your ways, and become a contributing, law-abiding citizen, then we’re going to continue to have overflowing prisons throughout the land.

And guess who foots the bill for those overflowing prisons? The taxpayer of course.

1 comment:

  1. Obama is struggling due to their help. and I hope, he will come outside from this problem. He’ll take justice.

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