Jail vs. community service
Regarding YDR's editorial (Inequality of Victims) of July 3, 2008, I don't understand why Anthony Bryan Weitherow was given jail time of up to 3 years as opposed to extensive community service for spitting on a state trooper.
Why is our system of justice cluttering our jails with this badly behaving person who hasn't really physically hurt anyone or done anything seriously criminal?
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Why should York's taxpayers be punished for Mr. Weitherow's malfeasance? I don't want to pay a cent for this man's room and board for any length of time much less 3 years. Do you, York taxpayers?
Wouldn't everyone be better off if Mr. Weitherow were productively supporting himself and his family, assuming he already has a family and a job? If without a job, he could get one--but not if he's in jail. If with a job, he could be paying taxes rather than be the "beneficiary" of ours.
Wouldn't our community be far better off if Mr. Weitherow were rehabilitated through anger management and recovery from alcohol addiction classes as well as significant community service such as: picking up litter in our streets; painting or fixing up community property in states of disrepair: writing thoughtful letters of apology to those he offended, i.e., the man he slugged with a beer can, the officer upon whom he spat, his own family for having shamed them, and finally the American people for having desecrated his and their flag?
Robert F. Merrill
York Township
