Two new guys, both youngish. One, interestingly, is named Page (short for Pageman, which is eyebrow-raise-worthy for all you Pageboys out there) and the other, not so interestingly, is named Mike. Because I get back at 6:30, I didn't really get a chance to talk to them, but being young short-timers, they just want to follow the rules and get the fuck out of here. Understandable. As far as I'm concerned, they'll be in and out of my life so fast they may as well not even exist. I'm speculating what their charges are, but Page has 20 days, so I'm guessing first DUI, while Mike was given 30 days so I'm guessing probation violation. To put it in perspective, I've got more time left than the two of them combined.

I did get to mention to them about my situation, where I'm being punished for being a blunt libertarian. I tell them my philosophy on crime and punishment, that in a multi-person society, each member has an obligation not to infringe on the personal liberties of any other member, and that failure to meet that obligation is the fundamental definition of crime. Anything else should not be considered criminal, and therefore, not punishable. Consider the thought experiment: you're caught by a mugger in a dark alley. He's got something in his hand. Are you more fearful of a bag of cocaine, or a crowbar? Are you more fearful of a pill of Ecstasy, or a knife? A lot of people make the argument that one is a controlled substance, while another is not. Substance control, however, is a function of government restrictions placed, and not necessarily reflective of their true ability to cause harm. A car, it can be argued, is a controlled substance, since not everyone can have one unless they're properly licensed. I say that a car is far more dangerous than a rolled up blunt.

In my ideal world, I'd still be locked up. Again, I'm not trying to skirt my responsibility. I broke my societal contract, and I intend to make amends. Locking someone up because of negligence due to chemical imbalance should be extended not only to those under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but also to those who are genetically pre-disposed to rage, or those whose troubled past and background lead them to react in certain ways, or even those under momentary stress. In twelve hours I'll be sober, but you'll still be an angry angry wife beater. Why is it that you're free?