In Defense of Liberalism

Working in customer facing roles I have come into contact with all kinds of people.  Young and elderly.  Wealthy and not so wealthy.  Male, female and transgendered people.  Muslim, Christian and Jewish people.  One phrase I have heard from all accross the community is “this country is going to the dogs!”  This is then hastily followed up (usually) with a rather legnthly attack on “those Liberal scum that got us into this mess.”  Afterall, isn’t it Liberal scum who state that smacking children is wrong, whilst advocating that we should release murderers and other varients of “low life” from prison, thus allowing them to run riot on the streets?

As one of those “Liberal Scum” I feel I should explain my own position with regards to these claims.  I cannot, obviously, speak for other party members because everyone will have their own particular point of view.  However, I must make the point that I have had many conversations with supporters of the Lib Dem party and have never heard a single person say that they believe that those who offend should not be punished for their crime.  Neither have I heard it said that there should not be discapline metered out to pupils who are disruptive. 

If I’m being completely honest, I have never really understood the reason behind smacking children.  In my own mind it does not teach them how to behave, which is surely the point of any form of punishment.  All it appears to teach them is that violence is the way to acheive the desired results.  If the recent political cock ups in Iraq and Afghanistan have taught is anything; it should be that violence (on whatever scale be it large or small) does nothing but perpetuate more hatred and violence.  Furthermore, if a parent simply just smacks a child rather than explain why a particular action is unacceptable, how is that child supposed to know a) what they have done wrong b) why it is wrong c) how to avoid such behaviour in future.

Not so long ago I was having a conversation with another supporter about crime and punishment (as you do on a Saturday night).  His own opinion was that prison is entirely pointless if there is no attempt at rehabilitation made during the time that an offender is incarcerated.  I.e a prison sentence is fine so long as the time that an offender spends in prison is being put to good use.  I have to say that I agree with this point of view.  I suspect that many of those who offend, particularly those who perpetrate petty crimes, do so because they either find themselves in difficult circumstances and have no option but crime or they become associated with bad influences.  Of course, this is a rash generalisation and as with all generalisations, it will not apply to every single person.  However, when we bare this in mind it becomes apparrent that in many cases a prison term will only succeed in ensuring that an offender does not commit a crime during the time that he or she is locked up.  Then what?  Then they are released back into the community and the situation that probably led them to a life of crime.  Thus, even if these people want to change their lives the odds are stacked against them before they even leave the prison.  I am not saying that change would be impossible.  Some people who have offended in the past manage to put their previous lives behind them and make a brand new start.  All that I am saying is that such a change must be difficult.  Therefore, if initiatives such as life skills classes CAN be offered to a person who may have veered off the straight and narrow then why not?  After all, education can change and inspire people to aim higher.  It can make a person discover passions or talents they never even knew existed within them.  This in turn can provide much needed self esteem to those who probably need it most.  Thus, if a person leaves prison with a clear aim they are surely less likely to re-offend and more likely to want to be a valued member of society.  This surely has to be much better (and more cost effective) for everybody.