General Discussion

kairos12

(12,862 posts) Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:05 PM Feb 2013

Can't pay a debt, go to jail in Arkansas.

Working class go to jail in Arkansas if they can't pay their debts.

Wall Street banksters needing bailouts get golden parachutes and bonuses.

Mr. Dickens we could use you now.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/09/arkansas-law-jails-tenants-who-dont-pay-their-rent/

16 replies

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Can't pay a debt, go to jail in Arkansas. (Original Post) kairos12 Feb 2013 OP

You may want to check your link ....? etherealtruth Feb 2013 #1

Correction Done, Thanks kairos12 Feb 2013 #4

Here is the right Link awake Feb 2013 #2

Correction Done, Thanks kairos12 Feb 2013 #3

Well that is one way to fill all of those privately run prisons awake Feb 2013 #5

Slave labor is alive and well in Arkansas. nt valerief Feb 2013 #6

I wonder do they still use chain ganges in Arkansas? awake Feb 2013 #7

More likely bisphenol A gangs. nt valerief Feb 2013 #9

To make matters worse, the accused is presumed guilty meow2u3 Feb 2013 #8

The real crime is many people are not responsible for their inability to pay AndyA Feb 2013 #10

The "liberty" party at work... EastKYLiberal Feb 2013 #11

Does this include the rich who regularly strategically default? davidn3600 Feb 2013 #12

He will be punished... kairos12 Feb 2013 #14

Evict them yes. Everyone has to pay. Jail, NO WAY! This is wrong. DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav Feb 2013 #13

Wow. Debtor's Prison. Who ever thought that would be back in vogue... Moonwalk Feb 2013 #15

Kick woo me with science Feb 2013 #16

etherealtruth

(22,165 posts)

1. You may want to check your link ....?

Reply to kairos12 (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:08 PM

Feb 2013

I don't think you meant to link to an article about Dick Cheney criticizing the president ...?

kairos12

(12,862 posts)

4. Correction Done, Thanks

Reply to etherealtruth (Reply #1)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:13 PM

Feb 2013

awake

(3,226 posts)

2. Here is the right Link

Reply to kairos12 (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:10 PM

Feb 2013

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/09/arkansas-law-jails-tenants-who-dont-pay-their-rent/

kairos12

(12,862 posts)

3. Correction Done, Thanks

Reply to awake (Reply #2)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:12 PM

Feb 2013

awake

(3,226 posts)

5. Well that is one way to fill all of those privately run prisons

Reply to kairos12 (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:13 PM

Feb 2013

I guess they can't find enough pot smokers in Arkansas.

valerief

(53,235 posts)

6. Slave labor is alive and well in Arkansas. nt

Reply to awake (Reply #5)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:17 PM

Feb 2013

awake

(3,226 posts)

7. I wonder do they still use chain ganges in Arkansas?

Reply to valerief (Reply #6)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:19 PM

Feb 2013

valerief

(53,235 posts)

9. More likely bisphenol A gangs. nt

Reply to awake (Reply #7)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:24 PM

Feb 2013

meow2u3

(24,764 posts)

8. To make matters worse, the accused is presumed guilty

Reply to kairos12 (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:21 PM

Feb 2013

The report continued, “Making matters considerably worse, the law strongly discourages accused tenants from pleading not guilty. Those who do are required to deposit the total amount of rent they allegedly owe with the court, which they forfeit if they are found guilty. Tenants who are unable to deposit the rent amount but plead not guilty anyway face substantially harsher fines and up to 90 days in jail. Tenants who plead guilty face none of this.”
Raw Story (http://s.tt/1zA4N)

What ever happened to the presumption of innocence? This law ought to be challenged in court as an unconstitutional violation of due process. Even tenants falsely accused and who can prove they paid their rent in full are charged as if they were criminals.

AndyA

(16,993 posts)

10. The real crime is many people are not responsible for their inability to pay

Reply to kairos12 (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:24 PM

Feb 2013

They are the victims. While the billionaires and bankers have gotten away with domestic terrorism, the average American is the one who has paid dearly for the crimes of others.

This kind of stuff is just insanity, punishing the victims instead of the criminals.

EastKYLiberal

(429 posts)

11. The "liberty" party at work...

Reply to kairos12 (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:27 PM

Feb 2013

davidn3600

(6,342 posts)

12. Does this include the rich who regularly strategically default?

Reply to kairos12 (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:27 PM

Feb 2013

If a corporation defaults on a loan, can we throw the CEO in jail?

kairos12

(12,862 posts)

14. He will be punished...

Reply to davidn3600 (Reply #12)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 12:33 PM

Feb 2013

downgraded from a Bentley to a Rolls.

On a serious note, this is the class warfare for real. Rethugs want it to remain hidden, but this law puts the spotlight on the criminalization of the poor.

It reminds me of how the Federal Reserve considers full employment to be 5 percent. Why not 0 percent? Because a permanent pool of unemployed puts downward pressure on the wages of workers. Now those 5 percent can be put in prison also.

What a rigged system.