Okay, we know the case in this article happened in Texas; a state which is not aligned with the principles of the United States of America, but regardless of who you are, or where you live, you know the truth. The wealthy are given special treatment by law enforcement across the United States, while low-income and poor Americans receive severe punishment without compassion or concern for their rehabilitation. Consequently, the recidivism rate among less-affluent Americans is far greater, while the lives of the privileged is barely interrupted.
Black men and women are treated far more severely by law enforcement than whites. Although this has been denied for over 50 years, now that virtually every American has a camera, the truth can no longer be denied.
America needs change and it must come now. The future of our nation is related to many issues facing our legislators, and this is just one of many.
Who is Tonya Couch? She’s not someone I would like to know. She is a criminal who uses the judicial system for her own benefit and that of her murderous son, Ethan. Ethan went to trial for the murder of four people in 2013. The question regarding the facts whether or not he killed them was inconsequential to the verdict or his punishment. While driving drunk, the then 16-year-old drove over four people with his truck and killed them. His defense offered a witness, a so-called expert, who claimed that the young Couch suffered from “affluenza.” He was too rich to understand responsibility.
The young Couch received ten years of probation for taking four lives. If he had been a poor, young black man in Texas, he would have been tried as an adult in would have been in prison for the remainder of his life, if not executed; something in which Texas takes great pride.
Was the young man grateful to the system for sparing his life? No. He was revealed in a video attending a party two years later where he was obviously drunk; a violation of his parole. Aware that he would be returned to the court, his mother, Tonya, took him to Mexico to avoid additional punishment.
Ethan Couch was returned to the United States this January. His mother was placed under house arrest. The Texas judge decided to become tougher on the now 19-year-old adult. He sentenced him to six months in jail for each of the people he had murdered. Really.
This week a Fort Worth Judge has eased Tonya’s punishment and allowed her release from house arrest to seek employment and to meet with her legal staff. A black mother in the same situation would be incarcerated for years.
Is this fair? Hell no. But this is America in the 21st century. Our nation is owned by the wealthy, and the rest of us live in an entirely different country.
It is of little matter if we are speaking of judicial reform, income inequality, health care, gun laws, religious freedom, or equal treatment under the law; none of these issues matter unless you are wealthy or poor; you will receive different treatment and have different levels of availability and freedom.
Do you want your country back? I do. I have decided that I will cast my ballot in November for Democrats. However, if the Democrat is an incumbent, I will leave that choice blank. I demand representation in Washington for myself and my fellow members of the 99 percent.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 