Earlier this year, our former Governor Rod Blagojevich was convicted on 18 different counts. Yesterday, he was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison. Federal rules stipulate that he must serve 12 out of the 14 year sentence.

I had decided that I wasn’t going to comment on Blagojevich or his case on this blog. I won’t bore you with all of my reasons for this. But, I’ve been pushed off my original decision for two reasons. The first is this headline in the Onion: “Least Corrupt Politician in Illinois History Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison” which was accompanied by this photo of the former Governor.

The headline basically captures my sentiment about this case. Is Blagojevich corrupt? Yes. Is he guilty of committing politics in Illinois? Again, yes he is. Does he deserve to be locked up for 14 years? Absolutely NOT.

It is no secret that I don’t believe in prisons. I don’t understand how locking this man up for 14 years accomplishes anything positive. Why are we, as a society, unable to come up with ways to ensure accountability for harm caused without relying on locking people in cages? What the hell is wrong with us?

One of the arguments Blagojevich made in his appeal for leniency from the judge was that his incarceration would adversely impact his family. The judge had these words in response:

Referring to comments from Blagojevich’s lawyers in asking for a sentence of no more than 3½ years, Zagel said: “I don’t doubt his devotion to children, but this is not … exceptional, in my own experience. I see case after case where good fathers are bad citizens. There is no question that the innocent children of felons suffer. This is tragic, but, as he admits, the fault of this lies with the defendant alone. Now, it is too late.

“If it is any consolation to his children, he does not stand convicted of being a bad father.”

But Zagel noted the damage caused by Blagojevich “is not measured in the value of money and property. The harm is the erosion of the public trust in government; [people’s] confidence in and trust in government.”

I am sorry but this is preposterous. By the logic of this judge, most of the corporate interests in our society could be sentenced to years in prison based on their roles in eroding the public trust in government. Those interests game the system and use money to curry favor with politicians. It is a legal form of bribery.

My second reason for writing about Blagojevich involves an article titled “Blagojevich Likely to Face Menial Work in Prison.” It begins with these words:

An eight-digit number affixed to his prison clothes. A job scrubbing toilets or mopping floors at 12 cents an hour. [emphasis mine] His incessant jogging confined to a prison yard. Most painful of all, restricted visits from his wife and two daughters.

After sentencing for his conviction on federal corruption charges, that is likely to be the new life for impeached Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is more accustomed to fancy suits, a doting staff and a comfortable home in a leafy Chicago neighborhood.

The rest of the article basically continues along these same lines. The reporter contrasts Blagojevich’s current life circumstances with the experience of being a prisoner. He outlines the limits that the former Governor will have on his freedom. For example, he won’t be able to jog when he wants, he will be limited in his phone calls, he will face isolation, he will miss important family milestones, he may have conflicts with guards and other prisoners…

Yet what truly stuck out to me in the article was the reference to the fact that Blagojevich is likely to earn just “12 cents an hour” for the work that he does in prison. Think of that for a minute. 12 cents an hour as payment for labor. It’s exploitation, pure and simple.

Blagojevich has made himself into something of a national punchline by his various TV and radio appearances. As such, not many people outside of his family will be shedding any tears for him. I, however, would like to point out that this man is going to be locked up in a federal prison outside of the state. Family visits will be severely limited, he will be doing menial labor for basically no pay, his family will be left to fend for itself, and he will spend at least 12 years locked in a cell. This simply makes no sense. It is wrong. I will be in the minority of people who believe this. I don’t care.