Somewhere in the Atlantic

Somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic there has to be some kind of treasure trove of policy solutions. Policy that is pragmatic and liberal (liberal in the classic sense). Some combination of a limited government, free market approach, with a sense of the traditional values that has made our Western civilization great, yet with a sense of humanity and decency that means the least in our society still have a voice.

For a specific example of where the right policy solution must exist somewhere between America and Europe, take voting. Specifically voting rights for those convicted of a criminal offence. Surely, if we value democracy we must value the concept of universal suffrage. Universal sufferage extends to all free people above an age of reason, in most societies the age of 18.

Yet many former prisoners in America are denied the right to vote, permanentlly, many years after their sentences have run. The punishment might be a year in jail (or far less custodial time), but a lifetime without full citizenship. Surely, this cannot be right. It allows no discretion (these convicts are under blanket bans) and utterly decries the notion of rehabilitation or of ever paying one's price to society. Restoring voting rights is often complex, arcane and time consuming. And as we have seen in Florida, subject to political machinations designed specifically to alter electoral outcomes.

In the UK, convicts have not been allowed to vote while incarcerated. This seems right to me. If you cannot be trusted to have your freedom, you cannot be trusted to exercize the privileges of liberty. This has been the case for as long as voting rights have extended to the unlanded commoner.

Until now. The European Court of Human Rights has decreed that prisoners must be given the right to vote while in prison after a case was brought by a convicted murderer (he bludgeoned his landlady to death when she asked him to bring in some coal), mal-adjusted genius and self-taught jailhouse lawyer John Hirst while he was still serving his sentence (he's out now)

It has to be right that while people are off the streets and in prisons they are out of the voting booth. And any restrictions after leaving prison, must on balance protect public safety not restrict fundamental civil rights like suffrage.