Monday, March 28, 2016

"Cities Are Paying Criminals $1000 Per Month "Not To Kill""

Zero Hedge:  It is widely known that in the past 6 months there has been a loud debate about helicopter money, i.e., giving out ordinary people (bypassing the banks) money directly printed by the Fed. What is less known is that when it comes to the most despicable underbelly of American society, cash to the tune of $1000 per month is already being "helicoptered" to some of the most brazen criminals living in the US today with one simple condition: "don't kill people."
* * *
Take the case of Lonnie Holmes, 21, who lives in Richmond, a working-class suburb north of San Francisco and whose four his cousins had died in shootings. He was a passenger in a car involved in a drive-by shooting, police said. And he was arrested for carrying a loaded gun. When Holmes was released from prison last year, officials in this city offered something unusual to try to keep him alive: money. They began paying Holmes as much as $1,000 a month not to commit another gun crime.
This is not just appeasement: it's sheer idiocy pure and simple, and it's only just starting.
According to the WaPo, "cities across the country, beginning with the District of Columbia, are moving to copy Richmond’s controversial approach because early indications show it has helped reduce homicide rates."
If readers are shocked by this "modest payment" it is for a good reason: the program requires governments to reject some basic tenets of law enforcement even as it challenges notions of appropriate ways to spend tax dollars. (more)

11 comments:

edutcher said...

They'll try to do the same with the Islamic crazies.

Then watch the fun when they're shocked, I say, shocked, at how the looney tunes take the money, laugh, and slaughter anyone in their path.

The men of the Committees of Vigilance must be spinning.

Of course, they were men.

William said...

If the government would send me just one hundred dollars one time, I would promise not to kill anyone for the rest of my life. This would represent a huge savings over other potential killers. Maybe we can get a bidding war going.

ampersand said...

Money poorly spent. We have huge highly subsidized arenas sitting vacant almost all year.
Think of the revenue that could be raised by bringing back fight to the death gladiator games.

Methadras said...

Is this the part where I double epic facepalm or just single epic Picard facepalm?

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edutcher said...

ampersand said...

Money poorly spent. We have huge highly subsidized arenas sitting vacant almost all year.
Think of the revenue that could be raised by bringing back fight to the death gladiator games.


FWIW, most gladiatorial contests weren't to the death. There were rules and referees.

A man had to fight 3 bouts a year for 3 years and his contract was fulfilled. The ones to the death were only for special events, many involving criminals or POWs.

ampersand said...

many involving criminals

We have enough of those to stage daily games and twice on Sundays.

edutcher said...

Executions were part of the morning card when the games were on.

Being torn apart by exotic beasts was a fave.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

cool, Meth.
Once upon a time someone made a giant middle finger... I wish I would have saved it.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Idiocracy is real, and it's here.

Amartel said...

Bad government policies created the problems in Richmond, and other permanently poor neighborhoods, and instead of changing those policies they're just doubling down. At the expense of the taxpayer, of course, subsidizing the soft bigotry of much lower expectations.

Amartel said...

WOW meth.