The Mid Life Dating Files 2025

If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?

If I Could Change One Law…

Oh, I’ve got a list. A long list. But if I had to pick just one law to change, here’s where I’d start…

First of all, let me be clear: I am not talking about laws protecting children or laws against violent crimes. If you hurt a child or intentionally hurt someone? Yep. Jail. Lock it up. Throw away the key. No debate.

But can we talk about something else for a second?

Why are we clogging up our jails — and draining taxpayers — over things like marijuana possession or non-violent financial crimes?

Marijuana is a plant. A literal plant. Humans have used plants from nature forever. Meanwhile, we’re spending thousands per inmate per year to house someone over something that grows in the ground. Make it make sense.

Now before anyone starts clutching pearls — I’m not saying all drugs are harmless. Hard drugs that destroy lives and families? That’s serious. That stuff doesn’t belong anywhere near our kids — or honestly anyone. Addiction is real, and it’s heartbreaking.

But here’s my bigger issue:

Our system often punishes in a way that doesn’t fix anything.

Take embezzlement or financial crimes. If someone owes money, and you throw them in jail… how exactly are they supposed to pay anyone back? From their prison job earning pennies? That’s not justice — that’s financial quicksand.

Why not structured repayment? Supervised employment? Real consequences that actually restore what was taken instead of just creating more debt through court fees and incarceration costs?

Because here’s the truth:

When you put a basically decent person in jail for a non-violent crime, you don’t always “correct” them — sometimes you harden them. They don’t come out better. They come out bitter, unemployable, and buried in more debt than when they went in.

And who pays for that?

We do.

I’m all for accountability. But accountability should repair, not just punish.

Put truly violent, dangerous, predatory people in jail. Protect society from real evil. Absolutely.

But maybe — just maybe — we need a justice system that helps people make things right instead of pushing them further under water.

Because if the system isn’t helping anyone get better…

what exactly is it doing?

Anyway — that’s my “change one law” soapbox moment.