America.......home of the double standards.

In the wake of the media blitzes for the presidential race, I want to share with you my complete disgust in the American political system.

I am not disgusted by the right to choose who you want. I am not disgusted with the democratic process. I am upset with the double standards in the system.

As a convicted felon, I have no voting rights. I have no say in the day to day operations of a society that I am to re-enter, support, and embrace. This society has deemed me "not worthy, or wise enough" to decide a choice in politics. Yet, I am to live under the rules that this society imparts on my life.

Fair? NO.
Deserved? Possibly.
Unconstitional? Totally.

The Supreme Court ruled that ones citizenship cannot be revoked for any reason. The state and federal governments both agree that felons have lost this right as a punishment for sins committed against society in general. From drug charges, bad checks, murder, arson, and so on......we are all the same. Second class citizens that are to remain that way through a series of governmental and societal check points that always keeps felons down.

The irony lies in the Department of Corrections in conjuction with the state and federal government to establish "re-entry" programs for ex-convicts. These "re-entry" programs are to integrate ex convicts into everday living in society. Yet, as they strive to integrate these "ex-convicts" into society, the laws of the land and state will not allow this "re-entry". I am sure that much of the American public is not aware of the obstacles, nor do many of them care, that ex-convicts face every day. Voting is, just one of many, freedoms that are taken from us....FOR LIFE. Many federal and state programs that assist poor people are not available to certain ex-convicts. Let me explain.

A welfare mother can make up to $4,000.00 a month with food stamps, HUD for housing and rent, utility assitance, Government grants for school. All this mother has to do is push out a few children at society's expense and ultimate responsibility to raise and care for these children. A majority of these "mother's" have confessed to not voting, let alone care about government interference, unless their precious, life giving "funds" are threatened.

An 18 year old white male or female, charged and convicted of marijuana possesion, HAS NOTHING AVAILABLE TO HIM OR HER. This person has a mark against their name for the rest of their life. No Pell grants, no scholarships, no food stamps, no HUD, NO NOTHING.

Is this fair? Hell no. Is the 18 year old going to do whatever he/she can do to survive? Yes. Will they more than likely head down a road to more crime? Hell yes.

I am in the small percentage of lucky ex-convicts that has found his way back to society. I have a full time job. I have a roof over my head. I have the love and support of many people.

My question is this?
What about the people in America who don't have this?
How does it end?
When does it reach a point of no going back?

I, along with most ex-convicts, agree. Some of our rights should be suspended. Some should be taken away for a while. Isn't this what prison is? But for the rest of our lives?

Like it or not. Society will never allow the "re-entry" of ex-convicts. Not in the full aspect of the American dream.

An ex-convicts life is and will always be "marked" for failure in American society.