The poem below is written by Michael Smith, a man I know who has just been sentenced to 16 years in jail under a three strikes conviction. He has never commited a violent act, he has been addicted to drugs for a long time, and, although he has been jailed before, he has never once received drug treatment. Now he will spend 80% of 16 years less 3 years credit (10.4 years) in jail at the cost of $43,000 a year ($447,200) to taxpayers because we didn't insist that he take drug treatment at a cost of $4000 (or maybe $8000 as he might have had to go twice because meth is a powerful drug).

Another $6.1B approved earlier this month to build even more prisons. To house even more non-violent, drug addicted people who could well be rehabilitated to be additive to our economy and not a huge drain. (Although frankly, there is a massive industry that lives off those who are in prison, that has no desire to see it shrink!) And the $6.1B approved without any voter involvement due to some fancy footwork of lawyers.

If you are interested in reading some of the three strikes stories, you can visit FACTS

And as for Mike, he has become a poet and a writer of children's books and someone who desperately hopes that he can make the rest of his life productive. Here is his poem:

Righteous Man
by
Michael Smith

I've made the wrong choice many times.

I've made the wrong turn,

said the wrong thing,

hurt many people

And committed crimes . . .

Yet I know I'm a righteous man.

I've shed blood before

and stole before

and hurt the ones

that I adore.

I've took a peek

and turned the other cheek

And stepped on a man

when he was weak.

. . . Yet I know I'm a righteous man.

I've made the wrong decision

when I knew it was wrong

And begged for forgiveness

while I sang my sad song.

And I've had many chances,

yet still I fxxx up.

Am I just stupid or crazy

or just not grown up?

The funny thing is, I know I'm a righteous man.

When will I learn

or what will it take,

To make me think first

with the actions I make.

I know I'm capable,

I know I care,

I know I give a damn

When I walk by in cuffs

and people stare. . .

And I know I'm a righteous man.

I know I like freedom,

yet it seems that I don't.

I know I can be something,

but it seems that I won't.

And believe it or not,

I'm scared and hate pain.

And I know that I'm smart

and not just insane . . .

And I also know I'm a righteous man.

I know how to love

and be loved and share.

I know how to feel,

to trust and be fair.

And I know how it feels

to give and not take.

And deep down I'm sorry

For my every mistake.

I also know I'm a righteous man!

I've even forgiven,

so can't you forgive,

And I know this ain't livin'

So please let me live.

Don't judge me right now,

there's still so much hope.

Don't hang me right now,

Let go of that rope.

Because I swear I'm a righteous man .

Because I will touch somebody

In the right way someday,

And I will make a difference

to somebody in some way.

And when it's all over

and I've taken the last breath that I can. . .

Somebody will say . . .

Now, there's a Righteous Man!