Comments on: See Saw Marjory Straw http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/02/01/see-saw-marjory-straw/ If there wasn't one before, it's time we started it... Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:23:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Innocent Abroad http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/02/01/see-saw-marjory-straw/#comment-4571 Innocent Abroad Sat, 02 Feb 2008 23:10:25 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/02/01/see-saw-marjory-straw/#comment-4571 It's simple - there are no votes in rehabilitation. In fact, it may even be that a Tory government would be better at that. Why? Because the single biggest cause of crime is drug/alcohol addiction and rehab is based on the premise that such addiction is, at root, a medical (mental health) problem. This "disease theory of addiction" is now widely accepted among the middle classes - less so in Labour's heartlands. It is rejected, for example, by many Afro-Caribbean and Asian community leaders, who see addiction as moral weakness. And the white working class have long held that mental illness happens to other people, and disgraces the whole family. It’s simple - there are no votes in rehabilitation.

In fact, it may even be that a Tory government would be better at that. Why? Because the single biggest cause of crime is drug/alcohol addiction and rehab is based on the premise that such addiction is, at root, a medical (mental health) problem.

This “disease theory of addiction” is now widely accepted among the middle classes - less so in Labour’s heartlands. It is rejected, for example, by many Afro-Caribbean and Asian community leaders, who see addiction as moral weakness. And the white working class have long held that mental illness happens to other people, and disgraces the whole family.

]]> By: septicisle http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/02/01/see-saw-marjory-straw/#comment-4547 septicisle Fri, 01 Feb 2008 21:05:08 +0000 http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2008/02/01/see-saw-marjory-straw/#comment-4547 The government have done this time and again, claiming they'll be redirecting lesser offenders into community sentences or fines, reforming rehabilitation programmes, providing more drug treatment, and each time it's been lost because they instead concentrate on outdoing the Tories on the punitive side of things. It's no surprise that judges respond with ever harsher sentences; after all, it's what the public wants, isn't it? I'll believe this when I see it. The government have done this time and again, claiming they’ll be redirecting lesser offenders into community sentences or fines, reforming rehabilitation programmes, providing more drug treatment, and each time it’s been lost because they instead concentrate on outdoing the Tories on the punitive side of things. It’s no surprise that judges respond with ever harsher sentences; after all, it’s what the public wants, isn’t it?

I’ll believe this when I see it.

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