Government Failure, Ignoring The Role Of Restorative Justice

In my waning years as a lawman, I was introduced to the concept of restorative justice. Initially I bristled at this new term as I pondered what it meant for traditional crime and punishment themes. That and I inherently did not trust the liberals that introduced new concepts like this to me in Moonbat Valley.

I quickly became a convert. On a small local scale, I had the unique ability to actually listen and comprehend what crime victims were telling me. In our offices, in our courtrooms, and at our post office. Victims who would find that our criminal justice system doesn't really give a rat's ass about their being victims. Was that true? Well, I had heard it dozens if not hundreds of times. So often actually, it became difficult to ignore. The problem the legal system has is the same problem our government has. It makes sense- they run both systems.

They don't listen. They don't think they have to.

Here then is a comparison and the different approaches of these two types of justice. If you have ever been a crime victim, and odds are that you have, you will like this.

Restorative Justice posits a paradigm shift that is best understood by asking the oft-quoted "three questions." The more common three questions for a system of justice to ask are "1. What laws have been broken?, 2. Who did it?, 3. What do they deserve?" Restorative justice asks, "1. Who has been hurt?, 2. What are their needs?, 3. Whose obligations are these?"[7] 

This is an interesting concept. If victims could acquire the same distrustful beliefs, based on the indifference of the legal system, was it not in fact true? How about hundreds and thousands of victims spanning my 25 year career? These victims were often not consulted, nobody really cared what their wishes were, and the only consultation they received was some trial prep on how to answer questions and the mean things a defense attorney might say. In a sense, these victims felt victimized twice.

Now let's move this micro view to a macro scale. What would happen if the entire taxpaying base of the United States were victimized at once? Millions of people out of work, millions more losing their homes? Millions more losing all of their home equity and savings? What would happen as they saw government ignore the rule of law, bail out the criminals, and not prosecute a single one? What would they think as Goldman Sachs reported record earnings and the same criminals that ripped them off got big bonus checks?

You are witnessing it now. I have never seen America more angry. They have watched as this indifferent government does nothing. Fat cops, doing nothing, in the donut shop. They have formed a collective belief, and rightfully so, made far worse because they all became victims at once. They lost a lot of money and they are not going to forget despite a government that desperately wishes they would. The government wants and needs quick forgetters. Barack Obama for all of his fancy degrees, didn't stand a chance. He ignored the victims and still does. Any two term Sheriff seeking re-election is aware of this principle.

The American people do not trust government. They do not trust greedy and corrupt bankers and rightfully so. There can be no recovery until there is restorative justice. The criminals have been allowed to escape. Those same Americans, the millions that just got ripped off, have been marginalized and ignored. We cannot have a recovery until some sense of sanity, fair play, and a willingness to restore justice in the American people comes to pass. Until then, a pissed off America is simply going to dig in it's heels. It will not hire people, it will not invest, it will not trust. This country cannot turn that corner without the help of the millions of innocent victims who continue to pay a mortgage on a house worth half of what it used to be. All of the money printing and passionate pleas for more unemployment will not save you Mr. Obama. The American people are entitled to and deserve restorative justice. Maybe President Obama, instead of talking so much, you should try listening.

Comments

rawmuse said…
"It's a big club, and you ain't in it" -George Carlin
Anonymous said…
A brilliant analogy.

I have a question. Are Congressmen and Senators subject to fiduciary responsibility laws?
Brian said…
Ya know what Jim...I thought they were but I'll bet they are not. That is a helluva good research topic. Thanks
rawmuse said…
Last time I looked you can't sue the Feds. Not only that, but they can lie to you day in and day out and it's just another day at the office. You try that and its perjury.
Brian said…
Good point RM. Do what you say, say what you mean is a foreign language to that crew...
hac5x3 said…
Seeing how the money owns the government this is the logical outcome - same as when the MOB paid the judges and police. There's no justice when money is buying the judges and the law. So what, then, is your point exactly? The only way to any change is to prosecute the government criminals - and that's not happening.
Dedicated_Dad said…
There's really only one solution to all of this.

To quote[/paraphrase] Kim duToit: "Rope. Tree. Politicians[/Banksters]. Some assembly required."

We're going to need a lot of rope. Thankfully, there are plenty of lamp-posts in DC and NYFC...

DD
Joy on Maui said…
Thank you for saying what I feel. The current economic paralysis has its genesis in our losing faith in the "social contract" - one could argue that this began with the JFK assassination, went thru a growth spurt in the aftermath of 9/11, and then acquired steroids in 2008. I am one who was hoodwinked into believing that Obama understood this and would change course and the realization that the exact opposite is true is "the last straw".

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