We don't have debtor's prisons..yeah, right!

http://mensnewsdaily.com/glennsacks/...-he-was-wrong/

Glenn Sacks

He probably thought that we don't imprison people for being poor or in debt.
He was wrong.
2008-08-31

From Friend of the Court nabbing parents who owe child support (Flint
Journal, 8/13/08):

FLINT, Michigan -- A floor installer had two choices Wednesday night --
fork over $4,000 in unpaid child support or take his chances with the judge.

He chose the judge.

"I'll just have to go to jail I guess ... I don't have any money," said
the man as he was led away to a holding cell at the Genesee County
Courthouse.

The Flint man, 44, was among the deadbeat parents in Flint who got
unexpected visitors this week as part of the Friend of the Court's night
warrant sweep that has been traveling around the county this summer.

"Some of these parents haven't paid in four of five years," said Friend of
the Court Jack Battles.

Since June, the Friend of the Court has partnered with local police
departments to round up parents for unpaid support.

This week's two-night operation in Flint added an extra twist as two
judges gave up their evenings to arraign parents on the spot.

Of the 18 arrested Tuesday night, five saw a judge and were given the
choice of making a payment or spending 45 days in jail.

One woman avoided jail when patrons at her local bar passed the hat to pay
$500, Battles said.

At one Flint locale, police didn't find the man they were looking for but
discovered someone there who wasn't on the list but who did have a child
support warrant.

"So we grabbed him," said Battles.

Police brought in more wanted parents Wednesday night, knocking on doors
around the city in the hunt for about 700 parents -- a fraction of the 6,500
active warrants for unpaid support in Genesee County.

Nearly $13,000 was collected before Wednesday night's sweep and Battles
said his office is constantly working on new ways to collect the debts.

The office is already looking at a plan that would allow them to seize
vehicles from debtors.

I'm glad they're seizing the "deadbeats" cars--that way they won't be able
to get to work to pay their child support.

I don't imagine this floor installer is one of those high-flying "deadbeats"
in media mythology--it's a low-wage and unsteady trade and in a period of
economic downturn, I imagine that his type of work is very much affected.

This floor installer probably chose the judge over the $4,000 he didn't have
anyway in part because he thought the judge would be reasonable. He probably
thought that we don't imprison people for being poor or in debt. He was
wrong.

What's wondrous about this is that we hear a great deal about the punitive
actions of child enforcement in Michigan. At the same time we hear a lot
about the state's economic troubles--the lay-offs, the unemployment, etc.
Hmmm--lots of "deadbeats," and lots of layoffs and unemployment--could there
be a connection?

Hmmm--lots of "deadbeats," and lots of layoffs and unemployment--could
there
be a connection?


What are they going to do when the Depression hits next year?

"DB" wrote in message
...

Hmmm--lots of "deadbeats," and lots of layoffs and unemployment--could
there
be a connection?


What are they going to do when the Depression hits next year?

Arrest everyone that can't pay, of course. At least we'll have three hots
and a cot, though! The X will be living on the street.

"Dusty" wrote in message
...
"DB" wrote in message
...

Hmmm--lots of "deadbeats," and lots of layoffs and unemployment--could
there
be a connection?


What are they going to do when the Depression hits next year?

Arrest everyone that can't pay, of course. At least we'll have three hots
and a cot, though! The X will be living on the street.


The X will never be allowed to live on the streets, the woman's movement
will push the government to fend for these defenceless victims and once you
get out of prison, you will be enslaved to pay back the money for their
housing.