PAID to NOT commit crimes!?

[mjr]

Yeah, once someone ignores the entirety of my post and picks out a single, short sentence in the paragraphs I put, I'm done. Didn't even respond to it with anything of substance. The point wasn't that I cannot be productive, but that people need help to be productive when they want to be, but there are roadblocks stopping them from it.

This isn't a debate. o7

I can already predict what the response will be. The quote will be "This isn't a debate" and the answer will simply be "If you can't understand my points then you should leave" or something along the lines of me bowing out because I know I'm wrong.

Your "bleeding heart" is showing.

No one is forcing any of you to respond to any of my posts...and yet a number of you do.

[mjr]

Just ignoring all points everyone else is bringing up instead of responding to them. Either we are wrong and you can prove why or you can just continue to say "NOU" and not have an argument to base your opinion on.

False dichotomy.

And I'd advise anyone who accuses me of "ignoring facts" to go look into that big, reflective, rectangle thing in the bathroom. It's called a "mirror".

We all do it.

Again: No one here is being forced to reply to anything I post. And yet a lot of you willingly do.

But since you asked, My argument is, like most of everyone else's, based upon my conviction, and my upbringing. I wasn't exactly "middle class" growing up. I think I've mentioned my upbringing on here before. I don't begrudge those who have more than I do. Why should I? I don't think a large number of them are greedy, evil, or whatever. Of course, as I pointed out in a thread that I started a topic on, some people may think I'm a "bad person" because of my beliefs and my convictions. It's almost like the old Chris Rock routine where he talks about how people want credit for stuff they're supposed to do. I find it perplexing that we live in this kind of society. I've made it clear before that I don't mind helping people. My objection is when the solution always seems to be "throw money at it". You can offer motivations and such to adults WITHOUT saying, "Hey, if you go without committing a crime for a month, we'll give you cash."

It's why I find it so unbelievable that an avowed socialist (because let's be honest -- he is) is getting the votes he's getting. That boggles my mind. The "youth" in the U.S. don't understand what "socialism" is. But I guess as long as people promise them free stuff, they'll vote for them. I mean, it's VERY easy to vote for someone who promises free crap to people, is it not?

I don't have to worry about that. I'm not voting for either major party for President, regardless of who makes the general election.

[Hyena Dandy]

I've made it clear before that I don't mind helping people. My objection is when the solution always seems to be "throw money at it". You can offer motivations and such to adults WITHOUT saying, "Hey, if you go without committing a crime for a month, we'll give you cash."

But does it work?

And does this work?

Because that's what matters to me.

Either it's effective, or it's not. You have your opinion on if it will be. Personally, I have no opinion. I worry it might encourage people to make the first offense, and to represent themselves worse.

Of course, on the other hand, economic motivations are common for criminals, especially those who are just starting out. They get into it for money, they get in deeper. If giving them money gets them out, I'm happy to give them money.

Nothing is without negatives.

But I'm waiting for the results. I'm not prepared to ideologically support or oppose anything. The reason I'm not a communist, not a libertarian, not a fascist, is because I'm not convinced that any of those are going to create the best possible society. But hey, if they do, awesome.

We put a hell of a lot of money into the police. It doesn't seem to work. If something counter-intuitive like this works, then great. Because then, I don't get shot, or robbed, or beaten, or what have you, and I tend to consider a day that doesnt' happen above a day that does.

[Talon]

Your "bleeding heart" is showing.

Trite cliche.

We all do it.

Ego projection. Next!

My argument is, like most of everyone else's, based upon my conviction

Your convictions are irrelevant.

Like Hyena said, either the program works - meaning it reduces the net burden on society - or it doesn't. If it gets positive results, I'm in favour. This is not an article of liberalism, this is pragmatism.