Credits - A New Type

Credits – A New Type

I have been a vocal opponent of Carbon Credits, no matter how hard the Left tries to justify them. Analysis of the scheme of selling credits to polluters results in one conclusion: It is a shell game developed to make the sellers of credits rich and the buyers of credits more irresponsible for the environmental havoc – real or imagined - that they cause or are accused of causing.

The idea of non polluting houses, farms, factories, cities and nations, accumulating credits to sell to polluters is strange to say the least. Ditto for the notion that planting trees as a way to garner credits is a worthwhile cause. This is especially the case when recent data has recently demonstrated that trees are actually polluters too, i.e. they release carbon dioxide. It has also been said that cows and other flatulent animals are polluting the planet. I am not sure whether or not a non-gaseous species can be used to make the gas emitting animals carbon neutral, i.e. can a farmer who has a herd of farting cows, buy credits from a farmer with non-farting horses?

Another tricky problem is that some data has now been accumulated that the act of humans consuming food is a very serious problem vis-à-vis pollution. That is obvious and we are unsure of why it took this long to come to this conclusion. Since all foods despoil not only the land on which they are grown or raised, but as they are not terribly mobile in and of themselves, need to be transported in fuel guzzling, inefficient machines – trucks and trains. How a carbon credit system that addresses this issue can be developed is tricky. Who is the payer and who is the payee? This requires more thought since all humans eat, eliminate, and thereby pollute.

If one does the math, it is not terribly difficult to see that the buying and selling of carbon credits does nothing to lower emissions in the absolute sense. From a Capitalistic perspective it is a very creative idea, with only one end point – profit.

Does this mean that all “Credit” systems are nothing more than get-rich schemes? Certainly not. In fact one idea comes to mind that will actually save millions of dollars, increase public safety, reduce crime, and in many ways do away with neighborhoods that breed criminals. What is that you say? It is a system of Criminal Justice Credits, or CJC’s.

Imagine the positive impact on society if a person of good repute, who has never broken any law, were able to sell his CJC’s to a person convicted of a crime? For instance, my mother is 93 years old. She has never broken a law of which I am aware. Consequently she has amassed a very large number of credits in this regard. For discussion purposes, let’s assign one CJC for each crime free year. Thus she has amassed 93 credits. Let’s further assign a value of $5000/credit/year. Hence, her “Credit Bank Account” is worth $465,000. Obviously each person who has accumulated CJC’s will do so according to their age and behavior over a lifetime. Consequently each person’s account may well differ.

The following scenario can be used to demonstrate the use of this idea: A teenager in a town (my Mom’s or otherwise) commits armed robbery. If convicted, he will surely see jail time. But wait! Why does that have to happen? Perhaps he can purchase CJC credits from my mother. He can do so either before trial, and obviate the need for a trial or lawyers. Otherwise, he can purchase credits after trial, if convicted. The judge, or an established set of guidelines used by the judge, can determine how many credits need to be purchased to keep this fine young fellow out of jail. If he or his attorney succeeds in making the purchase, a number of benefits accrue not only to him but also to society. These include but are not limited to the following:

• He does not go to jail, thereby saving the processing fees.
• He does not take up a jail cell.
• If he has a job he will not necessarily lose it.
• In this case, a senior citizen is not only enriched, but benefits from her exemplary life, thereby reducing the burden of living on a meager Social Security check.
• The attorneys in the case will be paid by both the defendant and plaintiff, thereby enriching both.
  

Imagine this happening all over America. New prisons will not have to be built as often or at all. The idea of remaining crime free, and being paid for that, will make not committing a crime pay. Every level of society will benefit to a certain extent. The crime free life will take on a certain panache. New careers based on CJC’s, i.e. how they are accumulated and sold or purchased, will be available to all. Defense attorneys as well as prosecutors will have a new set of arrows in their quiver. Law schools will finally have a new offering in their curriculum, i.e. the application of law to the accumulation and selling of CJC’s. CJC purchases and sales will be regulated, and comport with a set of sentencing guidelines, enriching lawyers even further.

Each type of crime will be associated with a certain number of CJC credits. For example, misdemeanors of various sorts will have a CJC value placed on them. Likewise for felonies. Felonies will cost more than misdemeanors, and depending upon the type of felony, quite a bit more. The number of times that a felony can be exchanged for a CJC will need to be defined, as will the number of times a specific crime can be off-bought. Certain felonies will not be eligible for CJC’s. All of this will need legislation. Specialists in this part of the law will be in great demand.

Since the buying and selling of CJC credits will reduce the need for prisons, it will probably be necessary to offer “Transfer of Knowledge” training to criminal justice professionals whose jobs will be eliminated as the number of prisons is reduced. Those who once spent their time refereeing gang and drug related fights in prison will be able to become involved in assisting law abiding citizens make a profit from their law abiding ways.

Additionally, the cost of justice will be offset. It seems only reasonable that a tax on credits bought and sold must be instituted, whereby the courts and municipalities will be enriched. In some cases, we imagine that courts can be eliminated in favor of drive through kiosks where CJC’s can be redeemed. If that is the case a “Closed Court Fund” can be established to assist court officers find new work.

Families will no longer be broken up when a family member is convicted of a crime. While it is possible that all family members may be criminals, it is not likely. Therefore, a Mom or Dad can use his accumulated credits to help a son or daughter stay out of prison. Of course the opposite may be the case if Mom and Dad are the criminals. Aunts and Uncles, friends and acquaintances can also become involved. The possibilities are endless. As CJC’s bring family and friends together, the need to commit crime may well be reduced.

Carbon credits are ephemeral, but CJC’s are real. They represent a real life opportunity to legally purchase a “get out of jail” card. Anyone can accumulate them, not only the wealthy. A poor, but honest person, can trade in CJC’s as easily as a wealthy one. By doing so he or she may break the ever tightening spiral of poverty and inequality. On the reverse side of the coin, even a rich but honest person will have the same opportunity. For those rich in CJC’s, there is nothing to stop them donating a credit or more to a person or family in need, thereby continuing the spirit of the “Great Society.”

In summary: By not committing a crime life would be enriched. Another person committing a crime can also enrich life in more ways than one. Imagine CJC’s as a link between the solid citizens, and the criminal element. This link represents a “Win-Win” opportunity for everyone.

There you have it. A credit scheme for all to use, and from which every one can profit, and... it’s good for the environment.

ggda