Paying the bills

[kandrathe]

Means something other then you think it does. It doesn't mean that a convict has the same rights as a free man, and it doesn't mean that someone with a multi-million yacht should be taxed as much as a single working mom, trying to make ends meet.

What it means is that if that single working mom were to wake up tomorrow with a 6-digit paycheck, and the CEO were to be in rags, then she would be paying as many taxes as he used to, and the same goes for him.

Equality would be that the multi-million yacht would be taxed at the same rate as the single working mom's Astro van. The convict has violated his social contract with the government and thus must suffer the consequences including a lifetime of restrictions on rights, however it may be unfair still by the Equal protection clause to treat him differently than the non-convict in matters that are not related to his conviction. For example, it has been upheld that convicted Felons can be denied their 2nd Amendment rights for gun ownership even when their conviction has nothing to do with violent crime. Such as the sad case of Thomas Lamar Bean, who is caught in a legal limbo. But, it would a violation to prohibit convicts from owning property.

They'll just cut power, water, gas, and won't let you lift a finger without a fine.

Not here. Loss of utilities means death, so there is a law which prevents utilities to ever deny service. So, if you don't pay your gas, or electric bill the State covers it. I have my own well, as do 90% of the people in my community. It is not against the law to not pay taxes. It is against the law to not file your tax returns, and to ignore the government. As long as you follow the proper process they cannot do anything to you, as far as I know.