Money Should not Talk - Proposition 5

This is a classic proposition where the easy and correct answer is no. A couple of stipulations at the outset. Our sentencing laws for all sorts of things are silly. Like the rest of the country we have a lot of people in jail for odd and curious reasons. We also have made a choice as society to pay a lot to keep very bad people, and some not so bad people, locked up for very long periods of time.

This proposition would implement changes in the way society deals with drug offenses. Right now there are some offenses related to drugs that can divert the person from prison and into treatment. If all of the assumptions on this measure come true (trust that they will not) costs for the new diversion programs could exceed $1 billion. At the same time the diversions could reduce prison costs by a similar amount.

To the extent that the proposition moves people out of prison and they don't commit more crimes, the assumptions will come true. I find those assumptions highly dubious.

I am not sure about the sociology here (or is it criminology). Why I will vote no on this is based on who has funded it. Between George Soros and John Sperling (the founder of the University of Phoenix) $2 million have been donated to the cause. Two others (Bob Wilson and Jacob Goldfield) have donated more than $2 million more. I don't know what the right theories here are but I am pretty sure that Soros and company don't know either. The proposition 5 arguments can be found here.

MADD, the District Attorneys and the Police are against this. That adds credibility to me for the no position. If Soros and Co. really cared about this, they might spend part of their $4 million that they have invested in the proposition building a demonstration project to show that their ideas actually work. Then we would not need a proposition, and the legislature, which should look at issues like this, would be likely to do this in the legislative process.

I plan to Vote NO