Justice

Justice

Justice is the wedge that seeks to determine if guilt is genuine and implaccable, or if, indeed, there is a way to help the person.

Not many eyes have seen into the eyes of genuine evil, and when it is apparent, the TV documentaries seek to convince us that we should see it that way. And the man falsely accused of causing the death of his kids when trying to save their life in a fire, we want the "system" to see, that in the balance, he is not as guilty because his eyes tell the story.

Justice gives us our sleep at night knowing the system puts those with the evil eyes behind bars and allow the well intentioned masses freedom to work in society. The function of the law is to bring before judgement those that it has sufficient evidence to remove any reasonable doubt that the accused has caused damage to others, or are constantly acting in a way harmful to others.

Mere stupidity, coincidence or misfortune, like like the man probably chasing fire engines who managed to be videoed in 7 of the 14 recent arsons in Central Auckland. The man brought in for questioning, was not charged. He was not a suspect. There is a very limited police presence in the small hours, when more successful criminals are likely active.

New Zealand News - NZ - Pressure for undercover cops review

Undercover cops under pressure

When the police do their job properly, real criminals who leave trails of evidence are apprehended and taken out of society. That is a good thing insofar as the rest of us are concerned.

But when the Police fail to do their job we are jepordised by the results. Innocent people emerge from long jail sentences with something to prove and sometimes show how they were locked up on bad evidence.

It is disturbing and ugly for most citizens to learn that the police are not immune to expeditious behaviour, those wanting the glamour of a big arrest, or fearful under cover agents may lose track of the truth in order to get major league criminals behind bars giving defence council the perfect ammo to invalidate the months of work detecting evidence of criminal activity.

Lying gives the cops a bad name. Undercover workers are not immune to corruption. Defence lawyers are there to find the chinks in the armour. That they exist is logical enough. Those that work undercover are necessarily exposed to forces that corrupt. But when intelligence is wrong, and an undercover is installed with no possibility of genuine result injustice may be promoted as pressure to finalise the costs of such operations and lay charges builds.

the pot smoking argument

The Pot Smoke Argument

We posted a question on a community board "is smoking pot bad for you?". Here are some of the posts (fair use quotes, or our contributions only. For the full thread, join SmileCity - its still free).

" Moderate pot smoking never hurt anyone, I smoke it regularly, once a day or more sometimes. And it's never done me any harm. "

" (of uni students who smoke pot) ... they're honour students at uni getting almost perfect scores... so hey "

" anybody who argues that drugs are good for you is stupid and naieve (sic). NO drugs are good for you, get real! "

" ...passive smoking of it (friends used to be heavy users), use[d] to stop me breathing, and on two occasions rendered me totally unconscious... "

"...in reality a majority of them are just fulfilling their role in society and ask nothing of you, so ask nothing of them..."

" SMOKING POT IS NOT BAD FOR YOU "

" Those who enjoy drugs will defend then no matter what the destructive effects are. This is the way they perpetuate them selves and their plants. Wheat and corn in the the plant world have almost enslaved all the human race as well as many other animals. "

" Some people use plant magic to their advantage. Some people use other people to their advantage. I wonder if something as wide spread and popular as pot smoking should be controlled by those who seek to use others to their advantage (ie the criminal world) or if it should be taken out of their hands entirely? "

" Regulation is worse for those who go out of control or who react badly to pot or other drugs. What leads pot smokers to other drugs is the fact that their pot dealer is also deals crack or P. "

The Law

The Law

What is the Law. Why do most of us abide by The Law?

Laws exist in nature. There is a natural order of things that is the way that things settle, when let to their own devices. Somethings work together in harmony, other things have no such useful sympatica. When the existence of one things jars or places danger upon the path of another, certain rules should apply to even the ground between them. For example the taking of a human life. That is something considered so terrible that most of us would not consider it even vaguely as a remedy. Or perhaps we actually do think ideas based on natural conclusions we reach based on the most forceful arguments presented to us by our circumstances.

It is not that hard to stay within the agreed law. If a law is not respected or if indeed the enforcers are not respected, it can have an impact.

For example, in New Zealand, the police function of traffic safety used to have its own separate and villified highway patrol. A merger with the NZ police improved both. This seems strange, as the merger of a body with less stringent values would seem to weaken the stronger. In fact the improved image of authority dealt a blow to death figures driving, and the police became more human as well.

The introduction of (the perception of) Law enforcement into the activity of road safety changed NZ drivers. No longer were traffic officers a breed we could weigh up against gang members in our minds with a social ease.

The Law is a set of priciples that enable people to safely mind their own business. It is the comfort of subscription to a set of values, like a religious belief, there is security in the idea that others will also maintain the boundaries that are clear as a result of written agreements.

We perhaps have a natural enough antipathy to politics, where matters of law are endlessly discussed. maybe it feels like tampering with a natural truth. The Law corrects the annomoly of leadership. Asking for an other to make decisions for a self goes against the grain. Accepting control and respect for a more basic social order seems the remedy of incarceration.

The Law well applied, is the holding back of remedy unless it is seen as necessary.
N Alexander

Site Award

Site wins NZ Information Network Bronze Award

We have won some recognition for our writings. Well done bustedinfo.org.

Taupo Police find some Cannabis

A police operation that took six weeks found cannabis plants with a street value of $370,000 growing in homes between Taupo and Wairakei.

Nador said

Nador's View Check what Green MP Nandor Tanczos said about the hemp seizure by NZ Customs.

Going Potty

Going Potty

Prohibition of cannabis does not work. If it is actually doing any harm to children, prohibition keeps it a secret. If there are any harmful effects of long term cannabis use, prohibition has not countered these. Prohibiting alcohol use causes those who will take the risk of drinking to indulge in greater risk drinking. Those arrested for risking lives by drinking while driving are acting in a dangerous and psychotic manner. Risking the death of another is insane.

It is hard to say how many schoolchildren in New Zealand already smoke cannibis. It is clear that regulation of low-THC hemp alternatives will make it harder for kids who naturally seek to fit in with their peers and yet not engage in possible long term health risks attributed to the overuse of cannabis. Low-THC cannabis may be less harmful than tobacco. How many young mothers smoke tobacco?

Low-THC alternatives enable a reduction of THC intake thus diluting possible psychosis while acting like a psychological nicotine patch. If indeed the BMA do not change their mind once again, and declare cannabis safer than alcohol or tobacco.

If there is harm being done to our children, it is being hidden by the way the law promotes a thriving black market that is making those who would put it in the hands of school children empowered. If cannabis use were decriminalised a cannabis culture may exist, but it would not be promoted by the greed of criminals.

If it were to be treated along the same path as alcohol, moderate use could be harmlessly enjoyed by those old enough for it not to matter, and school children would benefit by the tax dollars invested in an education system that is convinced it must favour the wealthy to survive.

EMail Interception

EMail Interception

New laws have been passed in NZ giving Police the right to intercept EMail and Faxes. Previously the Police were limited to intercepting telephone calls, but now evidence from email may be used.