The politician who is asked an awkward question may introduce a red herring into his answer, to divert attention away from the awkward issue. The term comes from the use of red herrings in hunting, to distract the hounds. This is usually done by taxes and welfare benefits-high taxes for the wealthy finance benefits for the poor. Redistribution is one of the central tenets of the welfare state, and of socialism. Most U.S. states require referendums on amendments to the state constitution.
Regimentation is a characteristic of totalitarian societies.
Regions, for example, can be distinctive due to language, culture, and history. In sociology, the term is used to refer to restoring a criminal to a condition in which he can return to society and refrain from commiting further crimes. Rehabilitation is one stated purposes of the U.S. prison system, which is why in most states the system is run by a department called the Department of Corrections. The tension between the need to punish and the need to rehabilitate has always been present in the prison system, and the balance fluctuates from time to time. This is in spite of several studies which show that the availability of educational programs reduces the recidivism rate.