Free Education in Prison & Where on Earth our Taxes are Going

“Prison education is a means of rehabilitating & re-directing. If you release someone with the same skills with which she came in, she’s going to get involved in the same activities as she did before.” – Marymount Bedford Hills Program student.

According to the Prison Studies Project, there have been studies conducted over the last two decades that have confirmed that the higher the education level in prison programs, the crime rate ultimately reduces saving the taxpayers money. However, taking into consideration that less than 5% of American’s taxes are going toward prisons does not make this situation any better.

From what I have researched, I do think that prisoners who are not serving a life sentence & are not mentally ill should be educated to high school level for education is an important step for people to grow. However, I do not think that it is fair that hardworking Americans with clean records & are earning a living for themselves are spending thousands of dollars on college educations when people who have done wrong are getting a college education for free.

The government justifies their spending by telling us where our money is going (see photo from www.cbpp.org). Even so, many citizens do not see results. 22% of our taxes go toward social security… Oh, I’m sorry, I am pretty sure that I have heard that social security will be nonexistent by the time I need it so what am I paying for? Also, why are only 2% of our taxes going toward education? That seems insanely low to me.

Here is what our taxes should be paying for:

1. High school education for prisoners (ones without life sentences)

2. Defense & international security assistance

3. Healthcare for EVERYONE (which should include medical & scientific research since it betters life for humans)

4. Free education

5. International affairs

6. Fixing of roadways, transportation routes, etc.

7. Financial support for the elderly & disabled I may be missing some here, but these are the 7 that I think are the most important. I don’t understand what is so difficult about changing the system to better the people. Our system is so backward that we make it a struggle for working-class people to get a higher education, but our criminals are getting it for free. If we had the American money-hungry mentality with Europe’s healthcare & education system, we would be unstoppable. We need a change & we need it now before our economy collapses as a whole. We’ve already gone through one recent government shutdown; let’s try to prevent another.

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13

Guilty until proven innocent

Yesterday at about 10pm or so, I was with 2 of my friends: a Pakistani male & an Italian female. We walked around a long time looking for a place to eat, but most places were closed due to the time & the fact that it was in downtown Manhattan. The 3 of us cut through a parking lot to check out another place & alas, TJ’s Bar & Restaurant was open. On our way through the parking lot, I smelt a strong stench of weed, but didn’t think much of it. 2 of us went inside the restaurant while my male friend stayed outside to talk to his mother on the phone.

I was getting annoyed because my friend was taking way too long. He then motioned us to come outside where two cops were standing. The 2 cops stood there with looks of accusation & tones of intimidation. “Were you smoking weed out here?” They asked what we were doing crossing through the parking lot & that we were the only people they saw outside where the smell was. At the time I was in my gym clothes, had no pockets to keep any substance in, & none of us looked high & were not acting disorderly. Before we got outside, my male friend told the officers to search for him & they did. When I got outside, told them my story, & told them to search me, they declined to conduct the search (I assume because they were male & I am female & they would have had to call a female officer). I told them to test me (not knowing there wasn’t such a test), & they said there was nothing to test me with. I thought to myself, Why am I standing out here in the cold if you have no proof & no way to get answers other than he said/she said? I was shaken & furious. Why on Earth would they assume that we did it? The odor from substances lingers so it could have been anyone. Was it because my male friend is brown? Is it because we were 3 young college students & it is assumed that many smoke weed? Nevertheless, the more I talked to the officers defending myself, I think they realized that I know nothing about weed (because I do not smoke) & they let us go back into the restaurant.

You would think in New York (especially New York City), a supposed liberal state, that marijuana would be legal. Although I do not smoke, I support the legalization of marijuana & people who use it as long as one does not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence. If marijuana is decriminalized, the economy would be in better financial standings & there would be less “crime.” 

Furthermore, if you smell weed or are in the presence of anything illegal in NY, go as far away from it as possible for you will be treated as a criminal if found near the scene. Most officers are hired to fulfill quotas & make money for the city; helping citizens doesn’t make money for the city, so why should they? The more illegal activity they find, the more money the officers make. Therefore, it is in their best interest to interrogate as many innocent people as they can until they find a guilty one.

I’m am still flabbergasted & wish our society was different, but in today’s society, we have to hide from our law enforcement rather than reach out to them for help & support. Our society is a sad reality & Europe is looking better & better.

Until next time... ciao 💗

Follow me on Instagram: @arielview13