| Fairness |
Trustworthiness |
Kindness |
| Patience |
Gentleness |
Knowledge |
| Discipline |
Compassion |
Integrity |
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
I received the below email from a friend today. Obviously, it's a "tongue in
cheek" story, however I'm posting it as food for thought.
I had never thought about comparing the plight of older Americans having to spend every
last penny to pay for minimal care in nursing homes during the last years of their lives to the care we provide free to incarcerated
criminals in our society.
Okay, maybe the writer of the below email over-stated the amenities most prisoners enjoy.
I did a quck Google on the subject and it seems that prison amenities are quite common, although some things like TV sets
are actually paid for my inmates or families. There does seem to be a movement to reduce inmate amenities with some
charging that criminals view prison as a "vacation" where they can live far better than they can on the outside.
Obviously we are treating the criminals as we would want to be treated, but what about
the old, sick, and disabled who struggle on their own to make it thorough life. Even those who the government has accepted
into Medicaid due to their limited financial resources aren't treated as well as incarcerated criminals.
Think about it.
Let's put the seniors or the elderly in jail and the criminals in nursing homes.
This
would immediately correct an injustice in one quick motion:
*Seniors would have access to showers, hobbies
and walks.
*They would receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical
treatment, wheel chairs, etc.
*They
would receive money instead of having to pay it out.
*They would have constant video monitoring, so they would be helped
instantly
if they fell or needed assistance.
*Bedding would be washed twice a week and all clothing would be ironed
and returned
to them.
*A guard would check on them every 20 minutes.
*All meals and snacks would be brought to them
*They
would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.
*They would have access to a library, weight/fitness room,
spiritual
counseling, a pool and education...and free admission to in-house
concerts by nationally recognized entertainment
artists.
*Simple clothing - i.e., shoes, slippers, pj's - and legal aid would
be free, upon request.
*There
would be private, secure rooms provided for all with an outdoor
exercise yard complete with gardens.
* Each
senior would have a P.C., T.V., phone and radio in their room at no cost.
*They would receive daily phone calls.
*There
would be a board of directors to hear any complaints and the
ACLU would fight for their rights and protection.
*The
guards would have a code of conduct to be strictly adhered to,
with attorneys available, at no charge to protect the seniors
and
their families from abuse or neglect.
As for the criminals:
*They would receive cold
food.
*They would be left alone and unsupervised.
*They would receive showers once a week.
*They would
live in tiny rooms for which they would have to pay $5,000 per month.
*They would have no hope of ever getting out.
"Sounds like justice to me!"
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