Had to say it

Ok, so I want to talk about Michael Vick. This seems like the best place because nobody reads my blog but me.
I would like to start off by saying that I am a HOKIE. I was raised in Blacksburg, VA and I attended and graduated from Virginia Tech. Michael Vick was a real boost to our football program, and for that, I will always thank him.
I would also like to say that "saving" dogs is my hobby. I am an active member of Kansas K9 Resq in Wichita, KS. I foster dogs and try to find them new homes. I cannot grasp the concept of hurting dogs for pleasure...or even looking the other way when someone else is doing it. I don't understand not loving and wanting to care for those creatures.
Yet another opinion of mine is that once a debt is paid to society, the debt should be paid...end of story. I think the fact that a felon (once time is deemed served) has so much trouble getting a job is a bad bad thing. We should want ex-cons to be able to obtain gainful employment, and start a better life. I know there is no way to determine for sure if a person is remorseful, or if they are "rehabilitated". We don't know for sure that they will never do the crime again. But we shouldn't make life on the outside SO hard for them that welfare and maybe even crime, is the only way they can survive.
On the same note, I feel that if you screw up a second time (for the same offence), they should lock you up and throw away the key...but only if you were truly given a fighting chance to really make a better life for yourself.
I also feel, personally, that Michael Vick was used as "an example" by being given such a harsh penalty for his crime. Not because I don't think he deserved it...I think anyone that can do what he did is seriously sick and needs to be helped as well as punished. But I don't ever hear of anyone else being caught for dog fighting and winding up in jail. We have a pit bull problem in Wichita, and all I ever hear about it the dogs being removed and the person being given a fine. SEND THEM ALL TO JAIL. And make it widely known that if you are caught doing this, you WILL go to jail. No passing go, no $200.
So, down to Michael Vick playing NFL football. Just this morning, it was released that he signed a 1.something million $$ contract with the Eagles. I think this is too much money. I think he should have been given the same salary as the lowest earner on the field for the first year. In that first year he can prove (or disprove) that he is still a decent football player. If he's not, he's out or on some practice squad or Arena football or Canada...don't much care. If he proves that he is still worth something to a team, and he keeps his nose clean, then he can sign for more money next year.

So...
Yes I feel that he as paid his debt to society...not to the dogs, but to society...so he should be allowed to play.
No matter what ends up happening to his football career, I think he should have to pay a portion (fixed %) of his earnings for the rest of his life to Pit Bull rescues...I think he owes the breed that much at least.
No I don't think that what he did is any less bad than Stallworth and his manslaughter issues
And yes, in a perfect world, we would unleash all the ghosts of his dogs upon him and they would eat him...but I long ago realized that we don't live in a perfect world.