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.
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Showing posts with label Why should prisoners be denied the vote?. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Why should prisoners be denied the vote?. Show all posts
Saturday, September 19, 2009
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