Why should prisoners be denied the vote?
Many people in Britain think prisoners forfeit their rights when they commit crime. But human rights are, by definition, unearned
By Ben Gunn
To ask why, in a liberal democratic state, prisoners should have the ability to vote is to miss the essence of the issue. In a liberal democracy, the default position, unravelled by 400 years of political philosophy, is that all competent adults have that right.
The question, rather, is why should prisoners be denied the vote? What is it that is asserted about the position of prisoners that qualifies them, of all people, to be excluded from the processes which govern their lives?
A mixture of law, politics, autobiography and humour. Once described as "The Devilish Advocate" (Guardian), I do have the ability to provoke a response. Sometimes it comes from someone who uses a thought process, and sometimes from jerks usually associated with the knee.
9 comments:
Criminal lose civic rights, not human rights. And quite rightly so.
Why should someone who cannot follow the law be allowed to choose people who make the laws?
VoR: Because the right to vote is a human right under Article 3 of the First Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Also why can't MP's who cannot follow the law be allowed to choose people who make the laws?
Why are MPs who are proven thieves still allowed to keep their jobs and carry on stealing ?
I repeat: Voting is a civiv right, not human right.
The sooner we are withdrawn from the EU and its warped influence the better.
VoR: I suspect that it is your warped mind which is influencing your irrational thinking.
Voting is a human right under Article 3 of the First Protocol of the European Convention.
Here endeth the lesson. Now run along and bug someone else.
Warped mind because I disagree with you?
The Sentinel: No, because I don't think the EU is a warped influence on the UK. I am all for Europe. We no longer have the British Empire, our status in the world is weakened and we would be better off joining a gang. We have surrendered some of our sovereignty, but in return there are advantages. One being the Convention and the human rights it offers, now incorporated into English law via the HRA 1998. This benefits prisoners who are the most vulnerable group in socirty.
Staying alive is also a human right which you denied to another person, as did Ben. You are entitled to nothing. Neither is he.
Post a Comment