General Chat

Ok Debs laughed really thought it was funny my Mum is registered blind but is fitter than I am, only hypothetical question anyway. Davexxx

Dave Ah you didnt mention that your Mum was blind. Is she? Well, I suppose I would have let you off then. I dont think I would make a very good Traffic warden. I would let everybody off. I am sorry for being harsh, I didnt mean it. I just come out with rubbish sometimes and I am one of those peole that should think before they speak.

Actually whether you like it or not it will come in this country 'government exists by the consent of the governed' that means that it is a basic human rite and democratic, prisoners will get the vote soon you mark my words!! if somebody who is an ex patriot of this country living 1000s of miles away gets a vote on issues that concern us here why should a prisoner not have the same rights? Dave

Bit harsh Debbie taking all my human rights off me for a parking fine glad your not a beak you would have hanging back next week lol! ps all I was trying to do was help my blind Mum do her shopping. Dx

NO, if you break the law and end up in prison for what ever reason then while you are serving your sentance you should not have the right to vote. Tina

DB It would have been your fault for getting the fine in the first place, you had still done wrong so if you cant pay then it's your fault in the first place. so no you shouldnt have a vote.

NO! NO! NO! (Do I make myself clear, lol).

I'm usually all for lock them up and throw away the key, but unless they are in prison for life, then I think they should be given the vote, but not allowed out of prison to do so.

you kidding me aww ang on you mean vote what they get for brekkie, no they get too much now

Yes - prisoners are still human beings and I don't think it's fair to treat every prisoner - with such a huge range of crimes - as if they are all on one level.

The whole point of a prison sentence is to keep the criminal away from soceity and that should exclude them from voting too. Anne .

Sentenced prisoners should be granted the right to vote, according to the Prison Reform Trust. , PRT argues that 'Giving prisoners the vote would encourage them to take the responsibilities that come with citizenship. It would also encourage politicians to take more of an active interest in prisons, which in turn would raise the level of debate about prisons and penal policy'. 'government exists by the consent of the governed' In nearly every country in Europe prisoners have the right to vote including Ireland! This isnt entirely my view but I do think certain prisoners should have the right! Dave

I think they shouldn't (and as everyone knows I am a softie-leftie). As to the argument that suffragettes were imprisoned for committing criminal acts in the cause of getting the vote, again that is using today's standards to judge those of the past. I am 100% in favour of women's suffrage and admire many suffragettes. But you can't look at individual prisoners and argue 'well I don't think your crime was very bad so you can vote - but your crime was so you can't'. The fact that someone has been imprisoned for long enough to miss an election is proof that their crime is significant in the eyes of the law. nell

NO Ann

Dave, you can't have one rule for one, and one for another. It would cause riots! Likelyhood is, if you fail to pay a fine, you'd only be in there overnight anyways. In my opinion, prisoners get far more priviledges than they should anyways. Some prisons are better equipped that hotels! (I know, I've seen them)

'Hypothetical Story' I take my 80 year old Mum shopping and get parking fine,I cant pay it because I havent got the money. Police issue distress warrant I cant pay! put him in jail does that mean I have to lose my human rites to vote! I agree in the main they should not have right to vote but not in all cases! Dave

According to my husband I am a so called 'do gooder' but I try to see both sides of the picture and make a fair answer but I have to say on this issue a definate NO Janet

The whole point of a prison sentance is to take away the crimminals' liberty. therefore allowing them to vote would be a contradiction!!

Dave has a point I suppose. Then again, if a Political Party were to promise to change, say the law regarding Cannabis and to offer amnesty to all those prisoners in jail on related charges, then can we deny their right to want that to happen? After all, the Law is only what the current Majority want it to be.

There was a 'Have your say' thing on BBC website in Teesside. I answered there as I will here... They shouldn't have any priviledges what-so-ever. They are in prison because they have broken the law of the land. Whilst some of them may be there wrongly, most are there rightly. They shouldn't be allowed these things if they can't abide by the law in this country.