What Is Job One?

The first job of government is to provide for the common defense. At any level of government, to provide for the common defense. Does this mean early release of inmates in order to balance state budgets? Does this mean no police cadet classes in order to keep a bus schedule running? Does this mean cutting Missile Defense spending to fund Acorn?

California thinks cutting police and firemen, and the early release of 40,000 inmates on top of the regular 100,000 annually released is the way to balance a $23 billion deficit. The recidivism rate within the first year of release is 70%. That rate may go down though, a good thing ? Hardly. There will be 98,000 convicts returning to a life of crime, with fewer police available to make arrests. The recidivism rate should go down but the crime rate WILL go up. The money California saves by not incarcerating the crooks, and police cuts will be more than offset by the direct cost to the victims. Eventually these 98,000 will go back through the justice system's turnstiles. The associated costs for finding and arresting the crooks, the court costs to defend and try the perp, and re jailing will all be re spent. Do you see any see any real savings in this cycle? What about the maimed, raped, robbed, death and property destruction left in the wake? What value is assigned to the victims? Oh, but the early released are lesser offenders. Excuse me for overlooking that these poor cons were sent to Chico U. for misdemeanors, maybe they "forgot" to pay that darned parking ticket or got caught jay walking, perhaps. Felonies are serious crime. Once a crook has had a taste of life in a cage,that's the last place they wants to return, so sadly felony check writing too often turns into Capital Murder. Sadder still we have predators amongst us who want or know no other way than the criminal way. I side with Society, even though I believe in second chances for many situations, crime is not one of them.

The first item on the budget fully funded must be for the provision of the common defense. The citizens can plant trees, pick up litter, car pool or paint the courthouse, we need no government telling us to be good citizens, if they stay out of our way with their taxes and bureaucracy, we know what to do.

Steve