"Banning the Box" Just Business or Personal?

The proposal entitled quite simply "Ban the Box" has flowed into the streets of Metro Detroit with vengeance. The proposal started in June of this year. It simply asks for the removal of convicted felony/misdemeanor questions or box on work applications in Michigan and several other states in the US.

So why all the uproar? Well many are thinking of the lives of the people they love who have been convicted of a felony. Several are concerned of their treatment after they have done who their time and are trying to start fresh. While many others are concerned that businesses will no longer be able to tell if they are hiring someone with a record. Many business owners feel it would make it difficult to keep their employees safe and may cause concerns in the work place.

While I do agree that it is important that those who are trying to re-establish themselves in society have their peace, I also understand that safety issues that could arise as a result of losing the questions. There is also concerns about possible increased rates of insurances for businesses which may end up costing them thousands.

One of the biggest things about this topic we must understand is that once a persons done their time they should not continue to be penalized their whole life. After hearing the facts on prison arrests in the US, I understand that 2/3 of the population incarcerated in the US are not for violent crimes. So what does that say about the fear of criminals? It is highly over rated.

While the overall topic has many in an uproar and are dividing the community as a whole. There are many who feel strongly about removal of the box and with good reason, however the flip side of the coin is how will this effect our lives in the future. Many ask themselves though the removal of the box seems like a small step what will come next?

When what we should really be asking ourselves is "What gives us the right to take away anyone's God give rights?" How can we justify discriminating against so many millions of people for the rest of their life over a charge that happened 15 years prior? And how as a society can we continue to turn a blind eye while so many of our population is suffering?" While I don't generally get involved in political issues I do feel that this vote is an important one. While it is just a first step we should support the removal of the box and start to give back the basic human rights we have deprived so many of for so long.