Last night a female police officer was shot in the face near to my wife’s house in Yonkers, NY. There are no further details at this time, but it is reported that she will be OK. Drug sales are suspected because of easy access to the highways.
Let’s turn to my experience of being locked up with some of these people: Why do people sell drugs? Because they can’t get a good job. Even when they come out of prison on fire with the thought of turning their lives around – and there are those – they can’t get a decent job and have to turn to their old ways.
It makes me raging mad to see that box on job applications: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
Not me, but it screens out other applicants right away, and they must turn to crime once again to support themselves and their families. Yes, some of these guys have family. I just saw the box yesterday.
What would you do if you could not get an honest job? I have been fortunate in my life to some extent. I played by the rules, and I was able to get a job. It is much more difficult now because I have gray hair, and age discrimination is rampant. I just filled out an application yesterday that asked if I am over 40 years old. I can’t get a job. What do you say that I should do? Fortunately, I’m old enough to apply for social security and take withdrawals from my IRA, but it is not enough. Again, what do you say that any of us should do?
Ban the box!