How Would It Change the US if All Murderers, Rapists, Gangsters and Addicts Were Banished to an Island?

It would be almost as bad as forcing them to live in a jail cell. It would allow tax dollars to be distributed elsewhere, but it would also cause a good deal of unemployment. Rehabilitation is the way to go.

Sounds like a good idea for a game show to me. “I’m a convicted felon, get me out of here!”

@ucme Now Why did I laugh so hard at that answer?

I think it would make a Top Reality show! You could show them getting into the planes handcuffed (segment one) then each show would show them having tiny little disagreements and trying to survive. I’d sure watch!

We’d lose a lot of people, first off. Plus, money made from for-profit prisons/prison labor would become less. Towns/counties that rely on monies earned from prisons/rehab facilities would fold up and die. Also- those who have loved ones who would be put on this island would have fewer opportunities to see their fathers/mothers/husbands/children etc. This lack of communication with the inmates support network would hamper rehabilitation as well.

@Aster Ahh but who would host such a show? Hmm…...maybe OJ, yeah this is sounding promising-ish!

An addict isn’t necessarily a criminal, much less a really bad guy as murderers and gangsters tend to be. Plus it depends on your definition of thief – are you including everyone who’s ever swiped a pack of gum from the drug store? And if 1 out of every 6 women is raped, it stands to reason that there are an awful lot of rapists out there.

@gemiwing This is a fantasy question. They are not on the island for rehab. It is an experiment in sociology. F=A=N=T=A=S=Y
Remember the show , Fantasy Island? No. You’re too young.
@papayalily Correct. An addict is often not a criminal. But I wanted to add them anyway for more drama on this Imaginary Island. We are getting nit-picky.

I suspect it would simply make room for a new generation of bad guys.

Another Australia.

Seriously though, the English sent the wimpy criminals to the US and the hardcore guys to Australia. I think there were just be another Australia if all the hardcore American criminals were sent away.

@KatawaGrey ok but how long would it Take for the US to return to previous crime rates? We could take a breather? A nice, long one .

@Aster What are you thinking will happen on this reality show?

@liminal I haven’t given it much thought, really, with cooking and all. I can imagine struggles, hurricanes, violence, heart to hearts, maybe some romance and fights over women. Have to be rated R.
Thanks for asking…

Wondering how many of us would end up on that island with a fluther addiction.

@Aster: I don’t think crime rates would change at all. I think that there were be smarter criminals for a while.

that would only leave Democrats here!

Katawa took my answer. Like she so often does.

Yes, but you stole my heart.

@Aster Awww, you spelled fantasy for me. Thank you. Yes, I’m old enough to remember Fantasy Island- da plane da plane! I must have missed where fantasy was stated in the question, I humbly apologize.

@KatawaGrey Aww. :)

A lot of people would be out of jobs. It wouldn’t do the economy much good. It’d be ludicrous on so many levels.

I would end up thoroughly convinced that justice isn’t blind.

The murderers and rapists would go off into little mercenary pods and prey on the addicts and non murdering, non raping gangsters. The island would become a tourist attraction too with live web cams and online betting.

They already are on an “island” called prison. This would not change anything. There would always be more criminals to take their place. What happens when the island starts getting too overcrowded, or we start running out of islands to place convicts on.

Are you being prejudice in deciding which convicts should be banished and which ones shouldn’t? Who do you consider an “addict” by the way?

On the one hand, the root of the problem lies in human nature; conventional quarantine measures wouldn’t work. On the other hand, exile would address the matter of repeat offenses.

@Aster
I disagree with the formula you suggested. I don’t think F=A=N=T=A=S=Y.

I don’t like your list. Putting addicts in it is disrespectful to say the least.

@mattbrowne Oh, alright!! I typed the list too fast. Innocent mistake.

@Aster – Apology accepted :-)