Well, international readers. Have you been wondering who Sheriff Joe Arpaio is, that US President Donald Trump pardoned last week? I was, so I set out to do research, as usual. Enjoy the results here.
America still has a wild side. This has fostered outspoken maverick sheriffs who have allegedly been a law unto themselves. Some organisations say that's terrible and must be stopped. However, I notice by the length of their tenure, that the people who elected them seemed to want them back each time. Sheriff Arpaio stayed in his job well into his eighties.
So , last week's President Donald Trump controversial news of the day, featured him pardoning Joe Arpaio, a long time supporter of Trump, who was convicted of contempt of court. I don't think anyone should have been surprised at that. Trump rewards his supporters. That he allegedly interfered in the judicial process to do it, before sentencing, was a bad thing. Trump seems to be conducting a war of sorts with the courts. I don't see that happening in Australia, where the courts seem to be respected by parliamentarians, maybe because so many of them studied law, and may want to go back to that line of work. Trump, of course, didn't work in that field. Note, many Australians don't respect the courts, citing too short sentences.
Sheriff David Clarke is another controversial character, very outspoken, with a social media presence like Joe Arpaio. Although African American, and supposedly a Democrat supporter in a mostly Democrat county, his views are Republican and he supports Trump also. His department have been sued multiple times under his watch, like Joe Arpaio's. There are many parallels.
Both of them have gimmicks. Arpaio's included putting jail inmates in pink underwear, which after it became notorious, he cashed in on by selling pink underwear merchandise. Clarke is noted, among other things, for wearing lots of medals on his uniform. Some say many of them have not been earned by him.
I advise you all to read the links at bottom of this page, and make up your own minds about these maverick sheriffs. Were they doing just what they had to do, in difficult circumstances? In so doing, were they acting for the voting majority of their constituents? Or were they violating human rights, wasting taxpayer monies, ignoring aspects of the laws, etc?
In making your opinions, try to put yourselves in the shoes of people who lived under their policies, who didn't have a voice, due to poverty etc.
For those who don't know, Arizona has a long border with Mexico.
safe link to short biography of Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
another satire link note this site as a whole is not suitable for under 18 s.
