US prison population hits 2 million.

[Hengst]

and this statistic from the article:

"About 12 percent of all black men in the United States aged 20 to 39 were in prison or jail, by far the highest single group. In contrast, 4 percent of Hispanic males and 1.6 percent of white males in that age group were incarcerated."

 

[Frackal]

Good posts Matt and MB.

And we're not talking libertarian right, ie, lower taxes, more personal freedoms, skepticism of govt... it is authoritarian right, which is the technical term for facism.

 

[Bullit]

BY YOUR LOGIC, YOU ARE SAYING YOU ARE BETTER SIMPLY B/C OF A PEICE OF PAPER WITH YOUR NAME ON IT.

Broly.... you, and many others on this board, think that you are superior to others simply b/c of the diameter of your arms so don't be sounding all righteous on Fonz.

If one had to choose a yardstick - brains or brawn - then brains is a better one to go with.

 

[big_bad_buff]

I was watching a murder trial(investigation) yesterday on tv. and these investigators were trying to convict this 15 year old black kid for murder, and had no evidence, they just wanted to convict someone for the murder, they even beat his ass because he wouldn't admit he did it. pretty crazy. I HATE COPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Baoh]

Broly.... you, and many others on this board, think that you are superior to others simply b/c of the diameter of your arms so don't be sounding all righteous on Fonz.

If one had to choose a yardstick - brains or brawn - then brains is a better one to go with.

Picking the lesser of two evils is still picking evil, though. Neither brain nor brawn determines who is a better person. It just translates into a selfish sense of worth or external value, which has nothing to do with how good or bad a person is.

 

[Bullit]

Picking the lesser of two evils is still picking evil, though. Neither brain nor brawn determines who is a better person. It just translates into a selfish sense of worth or external value, which has nothing to do with how good or bad a person is.

True.
I was limiting my comparison to Kayne (brawn) and Fonz (brain).

 

[Testosterone boy]

Most of the reasons for us being "Incarceration USA" have been well outlined by BG, MB, and MTS.

I would add some contributing factors as well. We have some damn petty laws that are enthusiastically enforced. We also have discretionary income that allows for drug purchases. Stress also makes drugs more attractive. Our work environment has spiralled into one where ones longevity is frequently measured in days rather than years.

We also put a great deal of subtle and not so subtle pressure on people to get laid. Drugs make sexual availability much, much, much easier.

We also have seemingly gazillions of cops, some of whom make up laws and some of whom make up reality.

I believe drugs are the number one reason for incarceration though. Clearly there is a better solution than simply slamming the prison doors.

Irresponsibility is also a major player. Don't have money? Then steal it. That is the message that many receive.

How about jailing a girl because she showed her nipples for 1/2 second at Mardi Gras? They had thousands of cops there to do exactly that..........needless to say.......I left in disgust.

 

[Baoh]

True.
I was limiting my comparison to Kayne (brawn) and Fonz (brain).

No worries, then.

 

[atlantabiolab]

Re: Re: My guess....

Actually, you could as well argue that it's the imposition of morality, through the criminal justice system, that fills up the prisons. The demonization of pleasure through laws that regulate drugs and consensual sex is definitely moralistic -- as is turning sex into something that can only be talked about at home.

An example of the way sex is especially demonized: We attempted to impeach Clinton for lying about a blow job. Now we have Dubya and his cronies lying repeatedly about Saddam Hussein and Iraq. Which is the more serious lie? A curious logic has developed among the right: As the lies legitmating the invasion of Iraq are exposed, the right simply creates new rationales. We went from being under nuclear threat to being the liberating salvation of the Iraqi people. Dubya, according to his friends, sees himself as called by God. Iraq is in part a war on infidels.

The right makes quite a fuss about its support of individual rights but, now that it has ascended to power in this country, it is rapidly going about the business of attempting to impose its morality everywhere, diminishing the freedom of individuals -- whether its women's right to have abortions, the right to end one's own life under medical supervision, even the right of due process. There's a reason John Ashcroft equates, literally, terrorism and drug use. It's the same logic that partially underlies the invasion Iraq: Get the immoral infidels.

Good post. I feel kind of weird actually agreeing with you. But you still are not seeing the complete picture, both groups are responsible for this problem. Since society has accepted the concept that morality is independent of reality, and that the mind creates reality, then whoever is in power, with this mindset, will interpret reality and morality to their wishes. The left does this with restrictions of freedom in lifestyles, such as smoking laws, increasing taxes on the working class, environmental regulations, affirmitive action, etc., while the right does it with expansion of government authority in criminal investigations and judicial actions. Both use the concept of "the good of society" to perpetuate their agenda, which is essentially power and control of thought.

You did good until you threw in euthanasia and abortion, though. Stick to real rights of individuals, not legalities.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

A lot of the laws is this land are based on

1. Our Puritan founders

gambling laws
alcohol purchsing and bar closing laws AKA blue laws
anti-prostitution laws



2. How can we take money from people?

Any traffic offense
Drug laws
Taxation laws

Get rid of those and our legal system could reduced dramatically.