Toward Human Health and Happiness: A Utopian Society for One
The ideal society is not like the ocean it consumes every drop of water, but there is no treasure, uniqueness or identity. However, Utopia is the imagined place or state of things where everything is perfect. It can be a personal, cultural and social idea that must rely on an individual’s unique priorities and principles. It does not require a consideration of what is good for most and it is not a one-size-fits all island of respite. Man is genuinely happy when he can be himself without limits or excessive interference. It is not enough to simply say that men want to be free because society is more than the laws that govern us, and these are not the only hindrances of freedom, peace, prosperity and creative expression. A lack of exposure to the good life and the necessity for access to achieve opportunities are the most damning chains of a man. If man can determine his inadequacies; he has the power to pursue the life that pleases him, and in doing so he can create the world he desires. We were not born to be a nation or community-builders though we may have reasons to try. We were not born to build a better world, as this task belongs to the Creator. However, we can hope for peace, prosperity and happiness in a Utopian society, but we must first create these characteristics in ourselves. In this paper, I argue that Utopia is a society for one and I will introduce a set of ideals to establish why education could be the foundation of our pursuit for life, liberty and happiness.
Education is the Best Path to Utopia More than two decades ago, Kofi Annan, addressed global leaders at the World
Bank Conference where he gave a status report on the topic of Global Knowledge and the challenge of information availability and access (United Nations, 1997). Annan famously uttered these words during his memorable speech: Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family (UN, 1997). His words reverberated as people begin to contemplate the features of a Utopian society. If real power, liberation and progress can be attained in the light of an educated mind; what better goal can man pursue than to become educated? In principle, it is the right and responsibility of each of us to commit our resources to securing happiness, health and success.
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In addition, it will provide an opportunity for us to help others as God meant for us to do. Goodall (2017) illustrates the point further when she asserts that a significant achievement gap is created by poverty. Those who are underachievers in education have a lack of parental involvement, which is a disturbing social justice issue that should not be ignored. Goodall also argues that social and economic inequalities increase gaps in educational achievement between children of the rich and poor. These differences create and sustain economic disadvantages, which is directly connected to the need for universal education at the primary level. Before we consider the overriding variables like poor personal relationships, inadequate parenting and/or social skills, drug addiction, abuse, mental illness and a generally low self-esteem; the disparity in education should be addressed. It is the best solution to a multitude of social ills (Goodall, 2017).
Consider the systemic and environmental impact of bias, abject poverty and discrimination on the family and development of individuals. A lack of education, if remedied, can improve a host of outcomes, including hunger, homelessness and safety among the poor and a significant bump in the standard of living of successive generations. This endeavor would be owed to the personal pursuit of education and ability (Goodall, 2017; Batchelor, 2013).
On Poverty, Deprivation and Community
In More’s Utopia, learning and wisdom are valued for practical purposes: to improve one’s family and community and to have the resources by which people might better understand how God wants us to live (More, 2009). In effect, prosperity would be a shared asset in the Utopian society and it is not the right of any individual to claim resources that are not equally accessible or distributed among all people (More, 2009, p. 54-56) Idealists are deeply concerned that private wealth and lack will produce poverty and injustice a notion that is consistent with the beliefs of many in modern society (Bernstein & Spielberg, 2015)
What are some common features among those who live in squalor? How can an open-minded person avoid succumbing to the condition which might condemn him to a life of limit? Kofi Annan appropriately suggested that the following realities cannot be disputed (UN, 1997). Poverty is due to gross disparities of income, excessive limitations to services and opportunity as showed by the fact that billions of people survive on less than a dollar a day and an immeasurable number of them are illiterate. Many others lack access to safe water and a vast number of them go hungry or face food insecurity on a daily basis (UN, 1997).
More’s Utopia resolves these disparities by eliminating personal ownership of wealth and property and completely eliminating money. Everyone in the society owns the houses and goods so every house has two doors, that were never locked nor bolted, and easy to be opened. In Utopia, there is no need to protect or restrict access to anything because there is nothing within the houses that is private or any man’s possession (More, 2009, p. 54). More’s notion of common properties and resources is taken from, Plato’s Republic, and this philosophy is evidence that some believe society’s most corrupting influence is wealth. If an ideal society is one which eliminates poverty, then the same society must automatically erode any necessity for criminal mischief as poverty and want of material resources is the root of crime (Donald, 2013).
Additionally, if society removes the need to compete with other because of lack, jealousy and other covetous behavior; then society has removed the need for theft, robbery, murder and a host of modern social ailments. Therefore, everyone in the society would benefit because there would be less fear and anxiety among the people. More states, that the rich are self-serving and they exploit the poor by paying them low wages, but convince them are trying to help them. Capitalism at its best. They are constantly trying to get more and more and keep as much as they can. These are the people who would object to having a communal society, because they are egotistic.
We start with a very basic argument: that extreme inequality is a barrier to Utopia and, further are indication of an unreasonable and ethically bankrupt society. There is a good case to be made that inequality is economically and politically beyond reasonable defenses, which is to say that inequality does not serve a purpose in any modern and progressive society. If good health and happiness are connected to a freedom from want and deprivation, then, what is the best way to attain happiness in a Utopian existence? As stated previously, the biggest barrier to access is a lack of knowledge, information and education. For this reason, it must guide us to pursue education assuming there are few barriers which offer opposition. An economy without money, property or personal resources cannot solve an obstacle to knowledge and information and thus cannot be acceptable or equal.
Whether you live in an industrialized country or in the most deprived country in the world, you have likely witnessed the products of deprivation and despair which are currently in abundant in every area in the world. Humanity has a profound explanation for its sincere concern regarding poverty. There are many reasons to be convinced that while poverty and deprivation is as ancient as the first society, yet little has been done to ratify it (United Nations, 1997).
It seems to make sense that we might attempt to understand the poverty problem by first addressing human action, free will, determination and the privatization of effort that, some argue is often missing element among the most appalling cases of those who lack. The tendency to dismiss the poor as just lazy is a fallacy, when we consider the 2017 United States Census Bureau’s poverty statistic. During this time more than 12% of the American population was at or below the official poverty level. In the same year, roughly 40 million Americans were actively living in poverty and these numbers do not include everyone (Semega, Fontenot & Kollar, 2018).
In fact, some whose abject circumstances have rendered them homeless, incarcerated or serving in the military are not included in this number. Innumerable others who self-report that they are living in the depths of poverty and have a household income less than fifty percent of the poverty threshold. Almost 6 percent of all Americans live in poverty, a number that accounts for about half of all Americans living in poverty (Semega, Fontenot & Kollar, 2018).
If and individuals had a proper education, they might face the ideal as one might face the sun. They are warmed when they rise toward advancement and this warmth is the most crucial brick in Utopia’s foundation. An enthusiastic approach to self-development in the manner of good health, education and the tireless pursuit of knowledge is the fruit of an organized and just society. In Rawls (1971), A Theory of Justice, the author argues that an organized society is one where the principles of justice are universally accepted by citizens and regulated by basic institutions.
While this is an attractive notion because it brings social harmony, unity and cooperation; societies must be subject to examination. Any society which promises common uniqueness and harmony is automatically one which will resort to disapproval of any groups that seek self-sufficiency, self-legislation and the right to question what most take for granted.
In an ocean filled with drops of water, one drop will join the others and sacrifice its own identity, uniqueness and pleasure for the opportunity to share the journey with another. However, shared company and the absence of lack should not be confused as happiness, prosperity or advancement. Substance does not merely end poverty, crime and its related issues, but education is the direction by which people can pursue individual advancement. The love of the theater and the arts creates boundless freedom and creativity. It provides an opportunity to become more informed and objective to secure one’s own right to life and liberty. When we have limited knowledge, some resources are concealed from us. In order to live the life that God has called us to live, we must possess every opportunity One we have developed ourselves, it is our responsibility to reach back and help others. This is how we can create hope for peace, prosperity and happiness in a Utopian society, because we have created the characteristics in ourselves.
Mass Incarceration In The U.S
The number of prisoners in the United States is currently at 2 million. Although the US comprises only 5% of the world’s population, it hosts 25% of the world’s total prisoners (AFSC, 2013). In 2018, 33% of the total prisoners in the United States were African Americans who make up only 12% of the total population. Besides, Hispanics form 16% of the total population, hence 23% of the prison population is Hispanics. In Maine, our home state, the incarceration rate of African Americans is very high. The 2014 reports from the Sentencing Project show that only 1.3% of Maine’s general population is African Americans, yet 7.1% of the state’s prison population is made of African Americans.
James Forman Jr, the current professor of law at Yale and a former public defender is the author of one of the best-selling books titled “Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America. This 2017 publication documents the history and the impacts of racial disparity and mass incarceration in the United States. According to Forman, mass incarceration bears devastating consequences for the victims of imprisonment, most of them being minorities. It also adversely affects their communities, families, and the entirety of the nation. Hence, there is a desperate need for solutions to address such imbalances.
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How Did We Get Here?
A comprehensive understanding of the nature of racial disparity in imprisonment requires a thorough examination of what landed the nation in such a state of affairs. Some of the contributing factors as identified by the American Bar Association (2012) include an overlap of race and class effects, disproportionate crime rates, impact of race-neutral policies, and disparities in processing criminal justice.
Evidence has shown that disproportionate crime rates especially among minorities account for a significant contribution to racial disparity in prisons. In 2004, a study conducted by Michael Tonry, a sentencing scholar, revealed that criminal behavior only explains 60% of the minority incarceration rate. If deviant behavior was the reason behind imprisoning everyone who is a threat to society, then this finding would have reported a 100% finding on the matter. However, 40% of the prison overrepresentation of the minority can only be accounted for by other factors.
The other factor that heavily contributes to the disproportionate number of prison minorities is the disparities in the processing of criminal justice. This factor is experienced particularly in the law enforcement areas, prosecution, and the ‘War on Drugs’. Racial profiling has over the past been a great concern when it comes to the ‘War on Drugs’ and law enforcement practices. For instance, in a routine traffic stop, African Americans are three times more likely than whites to be subjected to a search. Also, as James Forman (2017, p.66) reports, African Americans are two and half times more likely to be pulled over for pretext traffic stops. One astonishing finding is that when African Americans made up only 14% of drug users in 2005, they represented 53% of the people that were in prison for drug convictions (American Bar Association, 2012). Besides, District Attorneys have been discovered to be two times more likely to bring charges carrying minimum sentences against African American defendants relative to their Caucasian counterparts (Ghandnoosh, 2015). One can thus accurately conclude that disparity around the processing of criminal justice contribute to a large extent to the 40% contributing factors that lead the minorities to imprisonment.
It is also vital to note that the impacts of class contribute a significant portion to the racial disparity found in prisons. Minority groups whose background is of low socioeconomic status are often unable to hire private attorneys. This leaves them with the only option of using public defenders. The public defenders, due to high demand, are often involved in handling too many cases yet they have limited access to resources. Besides, defendants that lack private health insurance cover are more likely to be sent to the criminal justice system rather than being forwarded to rehabilitation or treatment facilities. This is because the publicly-funded treatment programs are crowded and are characterized by long waiting lists (American Bar Association, 2012). Therefore, individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds are at high risk of being convicted.
The policies that are said to be race-neutral have not demonstrated their race neutrality. A criminologist named Ted Chiricos identified a relationship between supporting severe sentencing policies and ‘black’ crimes. For example, the minority groups are the ones that are severely affected by school zone drug laws. Many minority groups live in urban neighborhoods that are often closer to schools. In New Jersey, 96% of the people that are convicted for the violation of school zone drug laws are minorities (American Bar Association, 2012). Also, disparities still exist between powder and Crack Cocaine offense laws whose sentences are a minimum of five years. Even after the Obama administration passed the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act, the powder Cocaine minimum sentence still is at a ratio of 18-1 relative to the amount of Crack Cocaine. That also targets the low-income minorities because they are the ones that often buy Crack Cocaine due to its cheaper cost. Powder cocaine is usually used by whites and is more costly (Gotsch, 2018). This demonstrates that such policies are not exactly neutral.
What Are the Consequences?
Not only does the disproportionate imprisonment of the minorities pose risk to the incarcerated individuals and their families, but it also bears harmful consequences to the community and the nation at large. Incarcerated individuals encounter many challenges. Because of the poor conditions of the prisons, the incarcerated individuals face psychological issues that harm their health. After returning home, the former prisoners find themselves struggling to reintegrate into normal life activities. Some psychological effects that accompany incarceration include hypervigilance, alienation, difficulties in being independent, social isolation and withdrawal, suspicion and distrust of other people, psychological distance, and a feeling of low self-worth (Craig Haney University of California, 2001). Also, someone who has been incarcerated recently has lower chances of owning assets such as vehicles and bank accounts (Scommegna, 2017). Therefore, incarceration harms the victim’s well-being and long-term functioning.
Collateral damage is another result of incarceration. It beings suffering to the family of the prisoner. African American children are six times more likely to have a parent in prison compared to Caucasian children. Children who drop out of school are more likely to have had an imprisoned parent. Such children also exhibit depression and anxiety, learning disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorders, homelessness, and physical ailments such as migraines and high cholesterol. Such impacts on children play a significant role in the racial achievement gap in the United States (Strauss, 2017). Also, children whose fathers had been imprisoned are likely to end up in prison themselves. For example, many African American teens that drop out of school are likely to be those with imprisoned parents, and those who drop out of school are ten times more likely to be imprisoned than those African American children who proceed to college. Imprisonment does not only affect the children but the spouses as well. Women who had sexual relations with men before they were imprisoned often have children with other men, lose assets, and end the relationship (Scommegna, 2017). When a family member is incarcerated, the minorities are further disadvantaged because they already come from a low background.
Communities are also affected by mass incarceration. Detroit neighborhood, one of the areas with high rates of incarceration, was studied. An interview was conducted over the phone with 1500 participants who had not interacted with other corrections systems. The study found that people that lived in “high exposure” neighborhoods were more likely to fit the criteria for Major Depressive Disorder.
Mass incarceration takes a toll on communities as well. A study was conducted in a Detroit neighborhood with a high incarceration rate. 1500 participants in these neighborhoods (who had no other interactions with the corrections system) were interviewed over the phone. The results were that those living in “high exposure” neighborhoods were more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. These findings may be supported by factors like witnessing how parole officers treat paroles, frequent seeing of parole officers around the neighborhood, and how the police target people in these areas (Strauss, 2017). The high incarceration makes life even harder for communities that are already struggling.
Finally, the nation also suffers the effects of mass incarceration. Mass incarceration is not sustainable. The United States spends $80 billion every year on running prisons (Schiller, 2017). Besides, racial disparity and mass incarceration are moral issues. The injustices that are done against the minorities are not consistent with the values that the United States was established on. The incarcerated individuals are deprived of the pursuit of happiness and liberty. The United States as a nation cannot for a long time continue heading in this destructive direction.
How Do We Correct This Imbalance?
The racial imbalance that is constantly plaguing the prisons can be corrected using several methods. Some of the recommendations to deal with the issue include lowering punishments for serious crimes, redirecting the “War on Drugs”, intensifying training systems for those that work in the criminal justice system, making changes in the existing policies, revising mandatory sentencing, and adopting racial impact legislation (Nellis, 2016).
For a considerable period now, the “War on Drugs” has not been effective in handling the issue of addiction and reducing rates of drug crimes. Federal and state laws still exist to deal with low-level drug crime offenders with harsh prison sentences. The resources of this country would be allocated in a better way to create more accessing treatment and drug intervention programs and to fund efforts to prevent drug abuse (Nellis, 2016). The low-level drug offenders would then be directed toward the mental health system and not the criminal justice system.
The state and the federal government need to scrutinize the issue of minimum sentencing. Minimum sentencing has a way of removing judicial discretion and the concept of approaching rehabilitation in an individualized manner. That implies that even when an experienced judge realizes that a defendant does not pose a threat to society, he is bound to sentence such an individual according to the minimum sentence requirement (Nellis, 2016). This process of imprisoning defendants for nonviolent crimes and drug offenses that do not necessarily carry long sentences spends a lot of resources that already are too far stretched. These resources can be directed to other areas such as the construction of more hospitals and the improvement of school systems.
Also, reducing the severity of sentences that are imposed on more serious crimes is required to deal with the racial disparity issue in the prison system. Because of the discussed issues that lead many minorities to prison compared to the whites, the minorities often are found with other offenses that had been committed before. Because of this, the offenders are branded “habitual offenders” and are subject to long prison sentences, even when they may not be a threat to the public (Nellis, 2016).
It is essential to address the issue of implicit bias through frequent and adequate training. Many law enforcement officers such as prosecutors, judges, and jurors often exert bias without knowing it. Such prejudices may result in discrimination if not addressed. One of how such law enforcement officers are helped is through training. Training helps them to find out that they usually act in a biased manner and know how they ought to challenge their biases. A self-report study that was conducted in California identified that trained judges have reduced implicit biases (Nellis, 2016). This thus shows that training is a successful approach to addressing bias.
Another important feature of reforms is racial impact legislation. This calls for policymakers to examine the potential results of changing the criminal code on minorities. This concept encourages the legislatures to find out alternative options that have reduced predicted negative implications on racial disparity in the prison system (Nellis, 2016).
Examining the effect of individual choices is the suggestion that James Forman puts forth on the issue of mass incarceration. While responding to the issue of Mr. Thomas and Dante not defending imprisoning him, Forman states that individual choices like the one that Mr. Thomas made have an immense impact on the individuals that are involved, even when such choices hardly touch the system in its entirety (Forman, 238). The choice by Mr. Thomas to forego retribution and accept forgiveness is rare in the current society. By deciding to forgive, Mr. Thomas made a great difference in the life of one African American man. Forman wonders what the criminal justice system would look like if attempts were made to approach issues in the manner that Mr. Thomas did (Foreman 236). How would it be if people realized that justice needs accountability more than it does vengeance? The encouragement that Foreman is giving to us is to have a compassionate approach to the issue of justice and show understanding, which is an approach that rehabilitation takes, but which retribution avoids.
Besides, Foreman talks of changes in policy in an attempt to enhance the criminal justice system (Foreman 236). He raises issues to do with the improvement of education in prisons, enhancing funding of public defenders, integrating past offenders back into society, and restoring the offenders’ lost voting rights.
Conclusion
It is important to seek ways of addressing racial disparity and mass incarceration for the imprisoned people. As Forman (45) asserts, mass incarceration is a product of the smaller steps whose significance is seen over a long period, and only when viewed in light of later occurrences.
The crisis that currently eats up the criminal justice system is due to the ineffective “race-neutral” policies, effects of class, and justice processing. The impact of such processes affects individuals, their families, the communities they come from, and the nation at large. It is therefore important to implement reforms like the redirection of the “War on Drugs”, reduction of punishments imposed on serious crimes, revision of mandatory sentencing, and increase of training to help in the recognition of implicit bias of the people that run the criminal justice system. Other approaches to address this injustice include making policy changes, adopting racial impact legislation, and placing value on independent choices. Reforms in the criminal justice sector are a necessary step to transform America into a place where everyone experiences equal opportunities to pursue happiness.
