Technology can sometimes go too far. I am a fan of all the modern devices and ease of finding information, communicating around the globe, watching videos of just about everything,etc.
I saw on the news today, a sad example though of taking technology to a ridiculous extreme. The state I live in has decided, in the past few years, to change it's primary income source. In the past, the economy here was based on cattle....then oil....and most recently....prisoners. Yep! It is a big industry here and is supported by the feds for funding. Jails here get over $100 a day for each and every prisoner and there are also other perks that are being taken advantage of. One example is food cost. The government pays around $5 a serving reimbursement for each tray of food served but actually costs only 50 cents a tray to feed each prisoner. Many counties here boast of a 98% conviction rate, which is ok I guess, but makes me question the innocent before proven guilty aspect of trial. How can 98% of everyone accused of anything be guilty? Appears the answer is BIG BUCKS for those convictions. A few years ago there were only 27 prisons in this state and now there are around 150!
Due to what is said to be risk factors and overcrowding, prisoners here will no longer be allowed to have any type of physical visit from family members! It was always hard enough on families to visit their convicted family members through a one inch thick plate of glass and communicate through a screened hole or a telephone. Now this will not even be allowed. For a cost of $20 a family can visit their inmates via video chat....much like Skype or one of those mediums. For those that cannot afford this fee, they can go to the jail and use the computer there but still no eye to eye contact. Not only can the state monitor all conversations, which could be a good thing sometimes, but would also be able to see into the HOMES of the families as well! This is infringement of personal privacy and freedom for the family members.
Whether the person incarcerated is guilty or not ...whether they deserve the punishment received or not...why should the family be punished as well and be charged MONEY for it? Another way to gather in more money for sure. You take just 100,000 prisoners in a years time that the family is spending $20 for this type of robot visitation once a month...well, you can do the math. It is not chump change.
Makes me wonder what is coming next with our freedom, rights and privacy with technology going too far. I believe this is drawing a line in the sand that can abscess into each and every persons life in the world. Once a window is opened, it can allow in just about anything. It is a scary thought of what is coming next for all of us.
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