Why in America Common Sense Isn't So Common: Simple Fixes for America's Absurdities

By Saint Maha Kaal

Why in America Common Sense Isn't So Common: Simple Fixes for America's Absurdities examines many everyday issues Americans face. The book covers several topics:

Criminal Justice

The book explores plea deals, government indictments, non-violent offenders, and long sentences. It critiques

• Language: English
• Publisher: Plutus Publishers
• Release date: Jun 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798330205318

Book preview

WHY IN AMERICA COMMON SENSE ISN’T SO COMMON

SIMPLE FIXES FOR AMERICA'S ABSURDITIES

SAINT MAHA KAAL

Copyright © 2024 by Saint Mahal Kaal

Plutus Networks LLC

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Edition, 2024

To everyone who has ever been bothered by the absurdities and injustices in our world.

And to those who seek common sense where it seems to be lacking. This book is for you.

Preface

This book is a collection of everyday puzzles that make you stop, scratch your head, and wonder, What the heck is going on here? Ever notice how your paper straw turns into mush before you're even halfway through your smoothie? Or how getting money from your own bank account feels like you're trying to break into a fortress? What about sitting in traffic and thinking, Couldn't they fix these roads at night?

In this book, we'll talk about all the bizarre, illogical, and downright annoying stuff we encounter every day. Each chapter in this book looks at the funny and sometimes annoying parts of everyday life that just don't seem to make sense—from the ridiculously high cost of hospital parking, to the agonizing complexities of school bureaucracy, the bizarre world of American voting, and the punishing aspects of personal finance like why checking your credit score can lower it, or why withdrawing your own money comes with so many fees.

Why do these odd things matter to us? Because they're part of our daily lives! They can make us wonder, laugh, or even get a little frustrated. But by understanding these weird bits, we can maybe start to think about how they could be made better.

Let's dive into these mysteries together and figure out what's really going on with all this weird stuff. Get ready to think hard as we look into these silly situations. So buckle up—it's time to learn and possibly even make some changes! Join me as we solve these strange puzzles. Who knows? Maybe along the way, we'll find ways to fix them.

Introduction

In the United States, we pride ourselves on being a land of opportunity. Yet, as we look closer, we see that opportunities are not equally available to everyone. Our systems—be they educational, political, or economic—often perpetuate inequalities rather than mitigate them. This book aims to confront these issues head-on, offering a deep dive into the policies that shape our daily lives.

Take education, for example. Imagine a child in a low-income neighborhood who is exceptionally bright but is limited by the poor quality of local schools. This child’s potential is stifled not by a lack of ability, but by systemic barriers. Why should a zip code determine the quality of education a child receives? This question is just one of many that this book explores.

Another pressing issue is the influence of money in politics. Consider the case of a local election where the majority of campaign funds come from out-of-state donors. These contributions often reflect the interests of the donors rather than the constituents, skewing the democratic process. This book examines the implications of such practices and advocates for reforms that prioritize local voices.

Moreover, I address the challenges faced by working parents who struggle with the high cost of childcare. What if we could remove this financial burden and provide free, quality childcare for all families? Such a policy could transform lives, enabling parents to work and contribute to the economy without sacrificing their children’s well-being.

These examples highlight the central theme of this book: there are many absurd policies that need to be reevaluated to create a better society. Each chapter presents a different aspect of this theme, offering examples and sometimes solutions as well. If you read the book to the end, I hope you will be inspired to advocate for policies that reflect a fairer society.

As you read, I encourage you to reflect on your own experiences and consider how these issues impact your life and the lives of those around you. Welcome to a world where common sense isn’t so common and where everyday puzzles await your curiosity. Let’s dive in and see if we can make sense of the senseless.

Contents

Preface                                           iv

Introduction                                     vi

ONE

Criminal Justice                               1

Chapter 1: Why is an Accused Criminal Not Allowed

to Speak Freely to Defend Himself While Accusers Can?        2

Chapter 2: Why are US Citizen Criminals Stripped of

Their Right to Vote?                               5

Chapter 3: Why Does the Government Publicly Announce

the Indictment?                                     8

Chapter 4: Why is the Government Allowed to Make Plea

Deals with Accused Criminals?                          14

Chapter 5: Why Can’t You Get Automatic Grant of

Change of Venue Request?                         19

Chapter 6: Why Does America Love Filling Prisons?       22

Chapter 7: What’s the Rationale for Putting Non-Violent

Criminals in Prison?                               26

Chapter 8: Does Putting People Behind Bars for a Long

Time Help America?                               32

Chapter 9: Why is Every Little Thing a Crime?             36

Chapter 10: What’s Up with Mandatory Minimum Sentences

of Minor Offenses?                               40

Chapter 11: How About Decriminalizing Poverty?             43

Chapter 12: How About Thinking of a Victim’s

Perspective Rather than the Government’s?             49

TWO

PUNITIVE FINANCE                         53

Chapter 13: Is the Federal Government’s Easy Student

Loan Driving University Fees Higher?                    54

Chapter 14: Why is College Tuition Not Tied with

How Much Their Graduates Earn in Median Salary       57

Chapter 15: Why are Student Loan Interest So High?       60

Chapter 16: Why is the Federal Government in the

Business of Student Loan?                         63

Chapter 17: Why Does Car Towing Cost Almost the

Value of Your Car?                               67

Chapter 18: Why is Hospital Parking Cost So Expensive? 71

Chapter 19: Do You Know Ambulance Bills May Not Be

Covered By Your Health Insurance                   75

Chapter 20: Why is Medical Debt Not Excluded from

Collection and Credit Reporting                   78

Chapter 21: Does Charging for Plastic Bags Really Decrease

Environmental Waste?                         82

THREE

TAXES                                           86

Chapter 22: Why Can’t Everyone Pay Their Share of Taxes? 87

Chapter 23: Will Eliminating Non Profit’s 501(c)(3) Tax Deduction Loophole Solve Nearly All Problems in this World? 90

Chapter 24: Why Do You Have to Pay Sales Tax on

Used Products?                               96

Chapter 25: Why the Election District Maps are So

Illogically Drawn?                         100

Chapter 26: Why Not Giving a Day Off to Vote on

Election Day?                                104

Chapter 27: Is an Identification Card Really Difficult to Get? 107

Chapter 28: Should Non-Citizens Influence Congressional

Redistricting?                                     112

Chapter 29: Why are Elected Officials Not Granted

Political Immunity to Safeguard Democracy?              115

Chapter 30: Why are Politicians Allowed to Remove

Someone Who is Elected By the People?             120

Chapter 31: Why is Out of State Donation Allowed to

Influence Your State’s Elections?                        123

FOUR

AFFORDABLE LIFE                               126

Chapter 32: Why is the City Transportation Not Free?       127

Chapter 33: Why Does it Cost Money to Take Money Out

from Your Own Bank?                         131

Chapter 34: Why Can’t SNAP be Restricted to Promoting

Healthy Eating?                               135

Chapter 35: Why Can’t Single Family Homes be Allowed

to be Owned by America Citizens Only?             139

Chapter 36: Why Can’t Single Family Home Prices be

Restricted to Wage Growth Rate?                   144

Chapter 37: Why Can’t Childcare Be Free?       148

Chapter 38: Why Can’t Families with Kids and Expecting

Mothers Get Priority in Parking?       153

Chapter 39: Why Can’t Schools Be a One Stop Place for

Parents and Children?                               156

Chapter 40: Why Can’t Parents be Allowed to Send Their

Kids to Whichever School They Want? 160

Chapter 41: Why are Security Deposits so Expensive?       165

Chapter 42: Why Can’t We Lower Healthcare Cost Instead

of Debating Who Will Pay for It?                   170

FIVE

IMMIGRATION                               175

Chapter 43: Is Everyone Born in the United States a Citizen

By Birth                                     176

Chapter 44: Why Can’t Non-Immigrant Visitor Visas

Become Easier?                               179

Chapter 45: Why Do You Need H1B Work Visas in the

Era of Remote Work?                               184

Chapter 46: Where is More Fraud in Immigration? Marriage

or Employment Based Petitions?                   188

SIX

DAILY NONSENSE                               192

Chapter 47: Why So Many Lanes are Closed for Minor

Accidents                                     193

Chapter 48: Why Furniture Assembly is So Complex?       196

Chapter 49: Why Do Climate Change People Not Care to

Clean Streets?                                     199

Chapter 50: Did Paper Straw Advocates Think of Little Kids 202

Chapter 51: Why Can’t You Get Good Customer Service

These Days?                                     205

Chapter 52: What’s the Need of Construction in the Busy

Day Time?                                     207

Chapter 53: Why are Sports Stadium in the Busiest Area of a

City?                                           211

SEVEN

EXCESSIVE REGULATIONS