Land of the free?

generic_hippie · 02-09-2011, 06:08 PM

everything in america is now a crime

"Today, the United States leads the world in the number of prisoners and in the percentage of the population in prison. The United States has 5% of the world's population, but approximately 25% of the world's incarcerated population."

The older Yahookans will probably remember me saying this very thing a lot of years ago, (not to mention the arguments my saying it spawned)...

Discuss.

El Coyote · 02-09-2011, 06:10 PM

Damn Amerikkkunts.

Xil · 02-09-2011, 06:17 PM

300,000 in 1980 to 2.1 million in 2004 i believe

all about the benjamins baby.

my_scatterheart · 02-09-2011, 07:22 PM

There's the police state side to it, but I think what we don't talk about is all the other crazy shit. Like the 16 year old that was arrested in Philly for murdering another kid. One of many of these stories in the past few months.
Need to get our shit together. :/

The Rev · 02-09-2011, 11:41 PM

Yeah, we like to talk shit about China's political prisoners used as free labor, but we got exactly the same thing here. There are two sides to the culture war, and if you're on the wrong side (like, you think it's okay to smoke marijuana), guess what wages YOU will be earning.

Things went too far a long time ago, when prohibition laws and such began to be taken seriously. Now, we're just straight up nuts. Great article, GH.

The Rev

**mothernature** · 02-10-2011, 04:30 AM

It's all about the money. There's lots of profit to be made.

**SageTree** · 02-10-2011, 05:47 AM

Retribution vs Rehabilitation

With holding comment on how or why people are in the system in the first place...

I feel this is a MAJOR error of the oxymoron that is the US 'Justice' System...

More like the US 'Just Us' System.

Puffman · 02-10-2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothernature

It's all about the money. There's lots of profit to be made.

Talk about over-simplifying.

Is there money to be made by a private prison? sure. But the government sure as hell doesn't "profit" from spending billions of tax-dollars each year to incarcerate people for no reason. While I realize that lobbyists do play a part (and maybe some politicians are getting a slice, i don't know), the police and judges aren't putting people in jail simply to line the pockets of prison corporations.

If it was simply "all about money" the government would have scrapped the drug war a long time ago.

José · 02-10-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puffman

Talk about over-simplifying.

Is there money to be made by a private prison? sure. But the government sure as hell doesn't "profit" from spending billions of tax-dollars each year to incarcerate people for no reason. While I realize that lobbyists do play a part (and maybe some politicians are getting a slice, i don't know), the police and judges aren't putting people in jail simply to line the pockets of prison corporations.

If it was simply "all about money" the government would have scrapped the drug war a long time ago.

I love your avatar of sweet D.

kitch · 02-10-2011, 05:35 PM

america: fuck yeah!

Qui-Bong Jinn · 02-10-2011, 06:00 PM

None of this would ever happen in Canada

Roach · 02-10-2011, 06:14 PM

when american politicians cannot come up with a solution to a problem they create a law.

solution : elect social engineers , and not lawyers.

BudSniffer · 02-10-2011, 07:13 PM

I believe it wholeheartedly. I live in a state that had a prison building boom several years ago. Story has it, the governor had financial interest in some company or companies, that were making the concrete blocks to build them with. I had a relative at the time that worked as a prison guard and they sent him to several of the new prisons to train new guards. He said there were some that had hardly any prisoners in them.
I also know of 2 different people, 1 in my family and 1 in my wife's family, that were sentenced to prison, that were told, by the judge and DA, if they could come up with $1 million, they would walk away free. It's all about money, in my opinion. This country is going to hell on a bobsled for a dollar.
One thing that irritates me, is the people I hear, say, you can't do anything against the government, or you will pay for it. Folks now days let themselves be herded like a bunch of sheep, believe most of what they hear, and are afraid to speak up. Where would we be now if George Washington and those folks acted like we do? Just lay down like whipped dogs and let themselves be led by the nose by the British.... Maybe we could learn something from Egypt?

Roach · 02-10-2011, 07:22 PM

Quote:

the police and judges aren't putting people in jail simply to line the pockets of prison corporations.

but their own pockets as well.

how much solution could the money wasted on the DARE program alone have bought ?

Xil · 02-10-2011, 09:56 PM

if you make more things not crimes we wouldnt need as many cops and judges.

**SageTree** · 02-11-2011, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qui-Bong Jinn

None of this would ever happen in Canada

Stephen stays much longer and who knows what could be :/ ....

The Rev · 02-11-2011, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roach

when american politicians cannot come up with a solution to a problem they create a law.

And when the DO come up with a solution, it's usually creating a law. There are many times when you're violating many laws with the same action, in fact, which seems completely ludicrous to me.

There's an old saw that "ignorance of the law is no excuse", but in a country where the number of laws is rapidly gaining on the number of people, I can think of no excuse more reasonable.

The Rev

generic_hippie · 02-11-2011, 05:46 PM

When I say its all about the money I mean the people directly and indirectly employed and the effect of having so many employed, it flows into all areas of the economy.

Telecommunications, electricity, food, housing (for workers), vehicles and the associated revenue raising, builders, maintenance, health-care for prisoners, uniform makers, the weapons required by prison authorities, there are so many more people employed than just the cagers.

The american economy simply could not exist in its current form without this massive expenditure "controlling" second class citizens, ie "convicts".

(Yahooka has grown up a lot, I appreciate the (informed) discourse).

Waves · 02-11-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mothernature

It's all about the money. There's lots of profit to be made.

exaaaactly.

self-loathing amerikkan here.

/raises hand

yup, we love our prisons because without them our economy would be tanked:

CRG -- The Prison-Industrial Complex and the Global Economy

but really its not prison that we like. its war. war on drugs. war on terror, etc. its all bullshit money-pandering. war in america is a way for those in power to get more rich and stay in power, and keep the masses huddled together against a common enemy.

Quote:

(Yahooka has grown up a lot, I appreciate the (informed) discourse).

Dude you should stick around, its changed a ton from the old days. Not as many fags. Not as many people period, actually, which is a love/hate situation for us :P

Roach · 02-11-2011, 07:18 PM

We're on the same page Rev.

I've searched to no avail for a list of laws one must follow in order to be a good law abiding citizen in say Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

no such list exists.

the non-freedom of information.

You must be a member of the some local bar association to attain access to even local law libraries.

go ahead, try yourself find a list of laws one must follow in order to not be arreasted for something in just say America in general, fuck the state and local laws, just laws you must follow in order to be a good "law abiding citizen" in the great nation of lawyers known as America.. (good flick)

just so you have a good pen ready...more than 20,000 federal statutes have been enacted since 1789.

that's just federal...and doesn't include the "no pool playing on Sunday's" in Ligoneer, Pa. ordinance.

02-09-2011, 06:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
generic_hippie question authority Join Date: May 2003 Location: 20 km's from Nimbin, Australia Posts: 3,972 Thanks: 121 Thanked 277 Times in 173 Posts	Land of the free? everything in america is now a crime "Today, the United States leads the world in the number of prisoners and in the percentage of the population in prison. The United States has 5% of the world's population, but approximately 25% of the world's incarcerated population." The older Yahookans will probably remember me saying this very thing a lot of years ago, (not to mention the arguments my saying it spawned)... Discuss. __________________ Love is my favourite DRUG...

02-09-2011, 06:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xil OD'ing on sobriety Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mizzura Posts: 3,334 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 1,158 Times in 717 Posts	300,000 in 1980 to 2.1 million in 2004 i believe all about the benjamins baby. __________________ "we'll show these fascists what a couple of hillbillies can do"

02-09-2011, 07:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
my_scatterheart Today, I am alive. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,565 Thanks: 1,486 Thanked 3,328 Times in 1,870 Posts	There's the police state side to it, but I think what we don't talk about is all the other crazy shit. Like the 16 year old that was arrested in Philly for murdering another kid. One of many of these stories in the past few months. Need to get our shit together. :/ __________________ Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

02-09-2011, 11:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,864 Thanks: 5,015 Thanked 5,419 Times in 2,864 Posts	Yeah, we like to talk shit about China's political prisoners used as free labor, but we got exactly the same thing here. There are two sides to the culture war, and if you're on the wrong side (like, you think it's okay to smoke marijuana), guess what wages YOU will be earning. Things went too far a long time ago, when prohibition laws and such began to be taken seriously. Now, we're just straight up nuts. Great article, GH. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

02-10-2011, 05:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
SageTree ~Kalyāṇa-mitrā~ Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In Love Posts: 23,414 Blog Entries: 26 Thanks: 13,070 Thanked 6,767 Times in 4,664 Posts	Retribution vs Rehabilitation With holding comment on how or why people are in the system in the first place... I feel this is a MAJOR error of the oxymoron that is the US 'Justice' System... More like the US 'Just Us' System. __________________ "What's oppressive is letting your life be confined by old definitions of what everything is." -Zen Meister my_scatterheart YaHooka is.... Cannabis lovers from around the world pulling up a comfy chair, picking up a vaporizer, a bong, a brownie, a pipe, or a joint, getting high, stoned, buzzed or healthy. Uniting our minds in conversation...While Portraying a Positive Image of marijuana and marijuana users to the world. Treat your fellow YaHookans with kindness,respect and tolerance.

02-10-2011, 04:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
mothernature ancientbongmaster Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,232 Thanks: 1,201 Thanked 809 Times in 487 Posts	It's all about the money. There's lots of profit to be made.

02-10-2011, 06:00 PM	#11 (permalink)
Qui-Bong Jinn Jedi High Council Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 2,127 Thanks: 907 Thanked 497 Times in 369 Posts	None of this would ever happen in Canada

02-10-2011, 06:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
Roach Victoria Aut Mors Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7,182 Thanks: 2,372 Thanked 1,985 Times in 1,508 Posts	when american politicians cannot come up with a solution to a problem they create a law. solution : elect social engineers , and not lawyers. __________________ לזיין את הקופים

02-10-2011, 07:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
BudSniffer Just bein' me Join Date: May 2002 Location: waayyyy over yonder Posts: 822 Thanks: 413 Thanked 306 Times in 186 Posts	I believe it wholeheartedly. I live in a state that had a prison building boom several years ago. Story has it, the governor had financial interest in some company or companies, that were making the concrete blocks to build them with. I had a relative at the time that worked as a prison guard and they sent him to several of the new prisons to train new guards. He said there were some that had hardly any prisoners in them. I also know of 2 different people, 1 in my family and 1 in my wife's family, that were sentenced to prison, that were told, by the judge and DA, if they could come up with $1 million, they would walk away free. It's all about money, in my opinion. This country is going to hell on a bobsled for a dollar. One thing that irritates me, is the people I hear, say, you can't do anything against the government, or you will pay for it. Folks now days let themselves be herded like a bunch of sheep, believe most of what they hear, and are afraid to speak up. Where would we be now if George Washington and those folks acted like we do? Just lay down like whipped dogs and let themselves be led by the nose by the British.... Maybe we could learn something from Egypt? __________________ "Nobody thinks the way that I do, I guess nobody dares. My head's so full of things, I set my mind free of them. I'm breaking the rules, breaking all the rules. " -Ozzy Osbourne

02-10-2011, 09:56 PM	#15 (permalink)
Xil OD'ing on sobriety Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mizzura Posts: 3,334 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 1,158 Times in 717 Posts	if you make more things not crimes we wouldnt need as many cops and judges. __________________ "we'll show these fascists what a couple of hillbillies can do"

02-11-2011, 05:46 PM	#18 (permalink)
generic_hippie question authority Join Date: May 2003 Location: 20 km's from Nimbin, Australia Posts: 3,972 Thanks: 121 Thanked 277 Times in 173 Posts	When I say its all about the money I mean the people directly and indirectly employed and the effect of having so many employed, it flows into all areas of the economy. Telecommunications, electricity, food, housing (for workers), vehicles and the associated revenue raising, builders, maintenance, health-care for prisoners, uniform makers, the weapons required by prison authorities, there are so many more people employed than just the cagers. The american economy simply could not exist in its current form without this massive expenditure "controlling" second class citizens, ie "convicts". (Yahooka has grown up a lot, I appreciate the (informed) discourse). __________________ Love is my favourite DRUG...

02-11-2011, 07:18 PM	#20 (permalink)
Roach Victoria Aut Mors Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7,182 Thanks: 2,372 Thanked 1,985 Times in 1,508 Posts	We're on the same page Rev. I've searched to no avail for a list of laws one must follow in order to be a good law abiding citizen in say Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. no such list exists. the non-freedom of information. You must be a member of the some local bar association to attain access to even local law libraries. go ahead, try yourself find a list of laws one must follow in order to not be arreasted for something in just say America in general, fuck the state and local laws, just laws you must follow in order to be a good "law abiding citizen" in the great nation of lawyers known as America.. (good flick) just so you have a good pen ready...more than 20,000 federal statutes have been enacted since 1789. that's just federal...and doesn't include the "no pool playing on Sunday's" in Ligoneer, Pa. ordinance. __________________ לזיין את הקופים Last edited by Roach; 02-11-2011 at 07:24 PM.

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