Letter: Teenage boys would rather go to jail than school

In a recent series of observations during civil trial cases, it seems as if more and more people are faced with having to represent themselves and they are losing because of committing procedural errors, failing to present valid evidence, or they are poorly cross-examining key witnesses.

Why is that?

Is it because we do not have a sufficient number of lawyers to handle the case load?

Is it because people just do not trust lawyers?

Is it because most people who are being prosecuted do not have the ability to pay for the services of a lawyer and believe that telling the truth, however presented, should be enough to earn them some justice and fair play?

In either case, are civil judges rendering decisions based upon the evidence and facts as they are presented, or are they simply surrendering to the lawyers and collection agents who are being compensated for their representation and those who cannot afford these services are reprimanded because of their inability to pay for representation and their inability to represent themselves?

Here is the bigger question, why is it that these individuals are being prosecuted in a court of law in the first place for their inability to pay bills?

Is it because they do not have the money to pay their cost of living bills and no explanation is deemed valid in the eyes of the presiding judge?

Is it because they do not know how to manage their income and therefore end up surrendering to their wants instead of their needs?

Is it that they cannot afford the high cost of medical services, the mortgage or rent payments, the furniture, car and credit card payments because they are living above their means?

Is sending them to prison a viable option and if so where do we find the capital to construct more prisons and to hire staff to supervise and monitor them?

Is mandatory financial management classes the answer and if so who is to pay for this ongoing service and the monitoring of it or is it more economical to send them to prison for 14 or 21 days and is this an adequate or even an appropriate penalty for the people’s inability to comply with the court’s order to pay their bills?

The question we must all ask is what can be done to lessen this ever increasing problem and what can be done to reduce the number of people who are being infected with this growing in number and increasing in dollar value social problem.

The even bigger question is who is responsible for addressing this social problem?

Is it the parents who are ultimately responsible for preparing, providing and protecting all their children from the real world and its never-ending series of trials and tribulations?

Is it the politicians we elect to manage the country’s affairs and are they totally responsible for the prompt, prudent and profitable management of the country’s affairs which includes tackling the issues related to debt relief, debt consolidation and yes, even debt elimination programs?

Is it the schools and their academic programs that are responsible for teaching our children how to and why to make the personal investment to educating themselves in preparation for the real world and the countless career opportunities that exists outside of the classroom door upon their graduation?

Is it the pastors, priests and church administrators who are responsible for teaching us about God and God’s strategic action plan on how to achieve success in life and financial security?

Is it the law firms and debt collection agencies who have found a way to further abuse victims of bad financial management practices by charging them 30-40 % on top of their outstanding debt and that they are allowed to do this in spite of the fact that if someone cannot pay what they owe under present circumstances how can they pay 30-40% more?

Is it the lawyers who possess the knowledge and the skills for obtaining justice and fair play for the people but who refuse to do so simply because they may not or as in some cases cannot get compensated?

Is it the banks who write off significant sums in bad investments annually but who will not give any form of consideration to people who cannot pay because of a major illness or because of unemployment?

Is it the companies that are making resident worker’s positions redundant or offering them early retirement so that they can improve the bottom line and exploit guest workers at the same time?

Is it society’s problem, therefore we must all learn how to live with the fact that there are fathers who do not legally, morally, personally, spiritually or financially support their children so their mothers have to work one and sometimes even two jobs so their children will have food, shelter, clothes and a movie every once in a while?

In addition, how do we in society address the more delicate issues that also affect us such as:-

Relatives and so-called friends who will sexually assault or physically abuse minor children for their own immoral gratification…

Mothers who treat their sons as their man instead of as their sons…

Fathers who treat their daughters as their woman instead of as their daughters…

Teenager boys who would rather go to prison instead of going to school because in prison they can be part of a gang for safety and security instead of living in a house where they are treated as if they are a nothing and a nobody going nowhere with nothing to do when they get there simply because they are repeatedly being told that they are just like their worthless father…

Public officials and private professionals who would rather invest their valuable time cleaning up dirty money for personal gain instead of cleaning up their dirty business practices…

Drug financiers, drug suppliers and drug dealers who are literally ignored by our criminal justice system to poison our children’s hearts and minds with the drugs they sell rather than prosecuted to the fullest extent that the law allows for making perpetual slaves and zombies of our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters…

Men and women who would invest their valuable time and precious resources to earn a degree, get a great job, generate a steady income and then waste it all to support a partner who is a drug addict with a criminal record that no legitimate business would hire regardless of their academic achievements…

People who exploit our sons and daughters to sell their bodies to maintain their own perverted desires instead of helping to motivate and encourage them to invest their time in acquiring the knowledge and developing the skills to grow and mature at becoming ambitious, goal oriented entrepreneurs and valuable citizens…

On and on and on it goes, where it stops nobody knows, except???

The question for all of us to address is not who is going to be held responsible for creating this self-indulgent destructive environment, but who is going to be held accountable for the results all this vicious, vindictive and violent behavior is producing.

Mr. Premier, whether you accept the responsibility or not, you stand at the threshold of history with the opportunity to lead the people by helping us to raise our standard of performance and to raise our level of expectation for the task at hand.

We the people, individually and collectively have the opportunity to follow you in setting out the standard of performance for social, legal, medical, judicial, academic, environmental, corporate, racial, financial and spiritual reform for the betterment of all the people, and with all due respect Sir, I am very much aware of the fact that you cannot legislate a moral code for us, but you can most assuredly practice one for us.

Mr. Premier, you stand at the threshold of history with the power and authority to do one of two things, you can either get up, stand up and step forward to help us all to set out and achieve these goals and objectives for our country and for ourselves, or you can step back into the chamber of mediocrity as did some of your predecessors and decide that it is not your problem.

Respectfully,

Melvin A. Joell