It's All in the Game

More on the Manning bowl.  This was the football game where Quarterback Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos faced off against younger brother Eli, Quarterback for the New York Giants.  The siblings have met twice previously; both times the elder Manning, Peyton having emerged the victor.  All I have to say is I’d hate to be Eli on Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad’s house.

During the game, I listened to the female reporter on the sideline as she re-capped a conversation she had with Archie Manning, father to the dueling Quarterbacks about having to watch his two sons compete against each other.  The reporter said, and I quote, “Archie said it’s not easy.  He doesn’t enjoy it at all.”  Doesn’t that just break your heart? 

Maybe the millions and millions and millions of dollars his sons each make a year will help ease poor Archie’s pain.

Crime Doesn't Pay, But the Accomodations are Great

I heard this morning on the news that the 2,300 inmates in New Jersey jails cost the taxpayers about $40,000 each.  That’s $92 million dollars a year.  I also heard that in New York, inmates cost taxpayers over $117,000 a year although they never said what the total number of inmates was. My question is this:  How well are NY criminals being treated?  Do they have unlimited pay channels, filet mignon, and spas with aroma therapy?  If I decide to pursue a life of crime I’m going to take the train into Manhattan first.

The news went on to report that a lawmaker in New Jersey is sponsoring a bill specifying that if an inmate is financially able, he should foot some if not all of the $40,000 tab himself.  How come no one thought of that sooner?  Doesn’t that make an awful lot of sense?  I don’t know who he is, but he’s getting my vote next time he runs for re-election. 

Why should hard working New Jerseyites pay to house a criminal if he’s sitting on a hefty bank account?

But I think the bill needs to go a little bit further.  I think that when a criminal is released, if he gets a job, his income should be garnished until his debt is paid in full.  Law abiding citizens pay for their  college educations for decades.  Same thing for alimony and child support.  And just try skipping out on a hospital bill.  Why should this be any different?  Why should bad people get free room and board, three squares and Home Box for years at a time?  Good people don't.

Just ask my daughter what I charged her the six months she lived with me.