Can't pay a debt, go to jail in Arkansas.

[kairos12]

Working class go to jail in Arkansas if they can't pay their debts.

Wall Street banksters needing bailouts get golden parachutes and bonuses.

Mr. Dickens we could use you now.



http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/09/arkansas-law-jails-tenants-who-dont-pay-their-rent/

[etherealtruth]

1. You may want to check your link ....?

I don't think you meant to link to an article about Dick Cheney criticizing the president ...?

[kairos12]

4. Correction Done, Thanks

[awake]

2. Here is the right Link

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/09/arkansas-law-jails-tenants-who-dont-pay-their-rent/

[kairos12]

3. Correction Done, Thanks

[awake]

5. Well that is one way to fill all of those privately run prisons

I guess they can't find enough pot smokers in Arkansas.

[valerief]

6. Slave labor is alive and well in Arkansas. nt

[awake]

7. I wonder do they still use chain ganges in Arkansas?

[valerief]

9. More likely bisphenol A gangs. nt

[meow2u3]

8. To make matters worse, the accused is presumed guilty

The report continued, “Making matters considerably worse, the law strongly discourages accused tenants from pleading not guilty. Those who do are required to deposit the total amount of rent they allegedly owe with the court, which they forfeit if they are found guilty. Tenants who are unable to deposit the rent amount but plead not guilty anyway face substantially harsher fines and up to 90 days in jail. Tenants who plead guilty face none of this.”
Raw Story (http://s.tt/1zA4N)

What ever happened to the presumption of innocence? This law ought to be challenged in court as an unconstitutional violation of due process. Even tenants falsely accused and who can prove they paid their rent in full are charged as if they were criminals.

[AndyA]

10. The real crime is many people are not responsible for their inability to pay

They are the victims. While the billionaires and bankers have gotten away with domestic terrorism, the average American is the one who has paid dearly for the crimes of others.

This kind of stuff is just insanity, punishing the victims instead of the criminals.

[EastKYLiberal]

11. The "liberty" party at work...

[davidn3600]

12. Does this include the rich who regularly strategically default?

If a corporation defaults on a loan, can we throw the CEO in jail?

[kairos12]

14. He will be punished...

downgraded from a Bentley to a Rolls.

On a serious note, this is the class warfare for real. Rethugs want it to remain hidden, but this law puts the spotlight on the criminalization of the poor.

It reminds me of how the Federal Reserve considers full employment to be 5 percent. Why not 0 percent? Because a permanent pool of unemployed puts downward pressure on the wages of workers. Now those 5 percent can be put in prison also.

What a rigged system.

[DogPawsBiscuitsNGrav]

13. Evict them yes. Everyone has to pay. Jail, NO WAY! This is wrong.

[Moonwalk]

15. Wow. Debtor's Prison. Who ever thought that would be back in vogue...

[woo me with science]

16. Kick