I totally screwed up that multiple quote thing...sorry.
To FZME:
You are right about everyone starting with a clean slate. However the same old repeated story of “product of your environment” is a load of rubbish excuses as far as I can see.
Two things, "product of environment" can't be denied as a factor in individual development. It has an affect on every person in the world on some level. A person's accent is proof of that. What I should have more clearly stated, is that P.O.E. is ONE factor in a persons's development.
Second, Quoting from the second sentence of my post, "There's NEVER A GOOD EXCUSE for bad behavior, but there's ALWAYS A GOOD REASON"
And again, it should read REASONS (plural). I'm not excusing anything, nor should anyone. A person whith a crappy upbringing still knows right from wrong. I'm saying that that there are cause and effect situations that happen in a person's life that can contribute to their own success or demise.
Sempul:
It IS NOT societies fault. It is the INDIVIDUALS fault! They made that choice to go and be lazy, steal, and suck on society’s tit! Just like the Nobel Prize winners made the decision to not go party and decided to stay in a study for their dream.
fzme:
It's awfully easy to judge people based on their choices alone. Again, accountablility is a must--and that's what you to. You're the enforcer. It's someone else's job to be empathetic or analytical.
Sempul:
And while on the subject, since when is it MY job to make sure that the rest of the people around me make it into society?
fzme:
It is in everyone's interest to see that their neighbor makes it (to some subjective extent.) I'd like to think compassion is innate.
Sempul:
If you get a plant with a dead limb you don’t leave it. You remove it so that the rest of the plant is strong and healthy. I know this sounds callous but it the only way to make it survive. When society quits trying to tie these branches up and hope they grow again and just removes them then we will have a full flowering society. Until then we are stuck with this dysfunctional society that we have.
fzme:
I get the analogy--it's about survival of the fittest. So believe me, I'm not saying you're a nazi, but isn't that what they wanted? A cleansed society?
Just saying...that's how it might come off.
Sempul:
Don’t get me wrong I do believe that you should be tried and I think that you should get a fair trial. But come on! Why does the state get ONE and I repeat ONE chance to prove you are guilty and after that you are protected by double jeopardy. But joe blow the crack dealing murder gets to appeal his decision 20 TIMES!!! I think you should get ONE appeal. If you are convicted by a jury of your peers TWICE then you are guilty. If you are truly innocent of the crime you are charged with and STILL get found guilty of that crime then you are GUILTY of something!!! I just don’t get why this system and societys views are ALWAYS in favor of the BAD GUY. I mean do you even realize the time and trouble it takes for me to catch this guy. Has any of you been there when I chase a armed thug into a dark alley with a gun and am shot at, have my hand cut to the bone, or bones broken trying to stop these criminals? No you are not but you are going to be the first to say “what a poor child. I wonder what WE did wrong to make him this way?” It truly disturbs me to the core I can tell you.
And just for clarification this is not directed at one person but at society as a whole.
fzme:
Some of your concerns here are legit problems in our systems. Some of it sounds like job dissatisfaction or burnout. I think that both you and your ilk, and me and mine, want the same thing--peace and justice. The difference is that what what you have given up on as an unattainable ideal, others have taken and shaped into a workable model.