Tough on Crime...

In Maricopa County near Phoenix, a Sheriff named Joe Arpaio has taken a tough stance on crime and confinement over the past 15 years.


Sheriff Joe is becoming known around the world as the sheriff who provides a major incentive for criminals to stay out of jail. Among his rules in the jail are the following:

1. Inmates are issued pink boxer shorts, socks, and towels as standard issues. Their outer clothing is black and white striped prison suits as seen in old-fashioned movies.


2. Coffee is not permitted because it lacks nutritional value.


3. Smoking and pornographic materials are not permitted since they have no positive value.


4. Inmates must pay for their own meals, which cost less than 50 cents each.


5. Inmates are assigned to be part of a "chain gang" working in the community. (To avoid discriminating against women, there are female chain gangs as well.)


6. Since cable TV is required by federal law, Sheriff Joe has the Disney channel and the Weather channel permitted, but he blocks all other cable channels.


7. Inmates are not permitted access to weight rooms. If they want to work out, they get their exercise on the chain gangs.

Sheriff Joe's tough stance on living conditions in jail has drawn the ire of various civil rights organizations who apparently think criminals in jail deserve rest, relaxation, health club membership rights, cable TV, movies, vices such as cigarettes, coffee, and pornography, and the avoidance of physical labor. Though these opposing groups threaten Sheriff Joe and conduct constant smear campaigns, he is routinely re-elected by the people of Maricopa County in overwhelming fashion. Who wouldn't want a sheriff that's this tough on crime protecting your community and your home?

If inmates complain about the conditions in the prison, Sheriff Joe tells them two things:

First, jail isn't meant to be a luxury hotel. If you don't like the conditions in jail, don't commit crimes that will land you there!

Second, it hardly seems right for criminals in the United States to enjoy better living conditions than the heroic men and women of the military who are struggling and suffering in harm's way to protect our liberties and freedoms from terrorists.

If all prisons and jails were more like Sheriff Joe's, I suspect our recidivism rate in the United States would dramatically decrease.

Political Humor: The Barber

Here's a cute little political joke I found funny. I think it takes a humorous jab at both Republicans and Democrats, and I thought it was funny. Enjoy!

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week". The florist is pleased and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The cop is happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a thank you card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later a Republican comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot take money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Republican is very happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open, there is a thank you card and a dozen different books such as "How to Improve Your Business" and "Becoming More Successful."

Then a Democrat comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Democrat is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Democrats lined up waiting for a free haircut.

Trashing our Border...

Several environmental groups have recently opposed the icreased usage of helicopters and other motorized vehicles in patroling the United States' southern border. The reason they are protesting this increased vigilance at the border has nothing to do with the people living near or crossing over the boder - it has to do with the animals who might be disturbed and annoyed by the impact of noise, vibrations, and pollution produced by vehicles operating in their natural habitat.

At first glance, one might think their arguments deserve some consideration. When one considers, however, the massive amounts of land being patroled by the U.S. Border Patrol and the increasing number of illegal aliens infiltrating our country each day, one would also have to think that the risk of waking up some sleeping animals is secondary to our national security.

Also of interest when you consider the environmental groups who are aggressively opposing these efforts to protect our country's border is the fact that these same groups do not appear overly concerned with the tons of clothing, plastic, dirty diapers, glass, and other garbage strewn among these natural habitats by illegal immigrants entering our country each day.

When I say tons of garbage, I don't speak figuratively, but literally...and I understate the severity of the problem by not pointing out the hundreds and thousands of tons of garbage being deposited in our nation's wilderness and nature reserves by those who choose to invade our country. (Dropping your garbage as you cross the border to break our laws isn't the best way to make a good first impression!)

I've talked before about the economic, cultural, and political effects of illegal immigration, but this is another example of the negative consequences of illegal immigration. The next time you think about giving of your time or resources to help protect some of our world's natural environments, first think about the hundreds of miles along the southern U.S. border that are being desecrated each day with tons of garbage as an illegal alien's first act on U.S. soil.