I honestly don't know what to think about judges giving convicted offenders a break on sentencing because of harsh to illegal conditions within our jail system. Today's K-W Record has yet another story and reference to an offender showing up in court for sentencing bearing the marks of a jailhouse assault. The jail was Maplehurst and the issue stemmed from authorities putting four men in a cell designed for two as in only two bunks. As Justice Craig Parry said that was "absolutely unconscionable".
Well if as I have often alluded to here our political systems are rotten to the core then how can we expect much better from the various government bodies that they allegedly run and supervise? Also in today's Record is an article about sports which also are unfortunately if not managed by government they are at least subject to government oversight allegedly. Between last summer's sexual assault trial of five junior hockey players plus so many other sordid highlights over the years we also have an article in today's Record advising of bribes being offered for preferential treatment on hockey teams.
How can Canadians honestly expect morals and ethics in any of our government ministries or departments when those in charge of them are Cabinet ministers playing the political games necessary to succeed. If jails are training grounds for crime then politics is the training ground for lying. Even government supervised arms length institutions such as jails, other correctional facilities etc. soon learn the rules of the game when it's politicians who make the ultimate decisions. It's not about right or wrong with them it's about appearances and political fallout. When your marching orders from above are simply to avoid scandals and crises at all costs then clearly honesty is not the right path for supervisors and managers hoping for promotion within any system whose ultimate authority is in the hands of politicians.
Quoting an old joke a boy tells his father that when he grows up he wants to work in organized crime. His father sagely asks "Private or government?" Yes money and power are at the root of most evil and unfortunately my old joke about what floats to the surface in a sewage treatment plant is not cream it's turds also applies to politics.
No comments:
Post a Comment