In light of recent events there has been a lot of posturing from people who feel the death penalty is in order for a man who killed three people in Colorado Springs. One person commented on a pro life post that he deserved the death penalty. Now let's take this one step at a time. First, irony much? Pro life site, demanding the death penalty? Yikes! Second, he has not been convicted of anything. Third, the reports of what happened have varied so much I'm not sure where the truth lies. Finally, I'm guessing he's not stable, there has to be some level of mental illness because healthy minded people don't use guns to shoot people. Period.
A common argument is that people don't want their tax money to be used to keep a murderer in prison for the rest of their lives. In other words, it's cheaper to kill them. Well, the statistics don't bear that out. HG.org reports that "some estimate that it costs U.S. taxpayers between $50 million and $90 million dollars more per year...to prosecute death penalty cases than life sentences." According to the Death Penalty Information Center "over two-thirds of the states and federal government have installed an exorbitantly expensive system of capital punishment which has been a failure by any measure of effectiveness." California, for example, has spent an extra $90 million per year on capital punishment, diverting funds from other needed legal services like community policing, leaving many communities vulnerable.
As for acting as a deterrent Texas alone proves that the death penalty does NOT, in fact, deter people from committing murder. Texas has over 300 people on death row and spends an estimated $2.3 million per case and yet it's murder rate remains one of the highest in the country.
According to former Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox, "It currently costs three times as much -- more than $2 million per inmate -- to carry out the death sentence than to keep an inmate in prison for 40 years. In other word," he goes on to say, "It's cheaper to lock 'em up and throw away the key." Florida, additionally, spent between $25 million and $50 million more per year on capital cases than it would have to if all murderers received life without parole, this according to Columbia Law School study. The study goes on to say that "the Indiana Legislative Services Agency estimated that had the state sentenced its death row populations to life without parole, Indiana taxpayers would ahve been spared approximately $37.1 million. Are you starting to see? Consider that the average salary for a new police officer is about $42,000.00 per year, including benefits. Divide $2 million by $42,000 and that translates to nearly 48 additional police officers. Police presence is a far better deterrent than the death penalty.
It is not cheaper to kill 'em. It seems a far worse punishment to wake up every morning inside a prison knowing that only death will bring you freedom and the taxpayers are not going to help set you free.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Monday, July 20, 2015
SHUT UP (...or won't somebody just feed me?)
Read an interesting article about a Portland Diner owner who yelled at a toddler because her parents refused to take care of the issue themselves. Yes, you are paying for your meal, but so are the 75 other patrons in the establishment. Here's the deal, the parents enter the establishment with what I would assume was a hungry toddler. They order three, yes THREE, pancakes for this hungry child. Breakfast is served! Oh the joy that child must have felt. Finally(I imagine the little lady thinking), mom and dad, I can have my breakfast. I have been such a good girl waiting for this delicacy. However, mother and father, I lack the skills required to spread butter, pour syrup and cut up the wonderful steamy delicious pancakes. Could you please...wait...what...hey, why are you shoving food in your mouth...WAIT...I'm hungry too...please mother, I'm so hungry....father...please...for the love of...OMG...THEY'RE NOT FEEDING ME! THEY'RE IGNORING ME! Up until now this method has worked for me, I shall say out loud "Mother feed me please"...in the only language I know. (Commence to whimpering)... That's not working, hmmm...I remember yesterday when I didn't get my lunch in a timely fashion crying worked, let's see how that goes (commence to crying). No, only the lady that brought our lunch came over, she's suggesting we take our food out. NO I WANT TO EAT! MOOOOOOMMMMMM FEED ME! (commence to wailing and disturbing those around me...usually gets a look or two from dear old dad) NO! WHAT? OH MY GOODNESS I'm pretty sure they mean for me to starve to death. (Suddenly a loud bang and a be quiet in a stern voice) WHO ME? HEY YELL AT THEM, THEY'RE THE ONES ACTING LIKE CHILDREN. Ok, though, I'll quiet down...maybe now I'll get some...mmmm....pancakes, thanks mom and dad for making this a federal issue at least now I'm eating and my tummy isn't hurting anymore!
We've all been there. Honestly, I don't understand why parents feel the need to drag their children EVERYWHERE. I had two wonderful, beautiful, amazing toddlers. One of them (who shall remain nameless but was an only child for a while) was the kind of toddler who could sit for hours with a few pickles and a pack of crackers until food arrived. Then she (oops I gave away too much here) would quietly eat her meal and just be adorable throughout. We brought her everywhere, pretty much. Our other child was not as self controlled, for several reasons. He was (again, the secret identities have been revealed) a typical rambunctious little boy. He liked to wander about, he didn't like to sit still, he didn't enjoy SITTING and eating crackers, he felt the need to share with the world. He was very outgoing and social. Did I mention rambunctious? We chose carefully where we took him, making sure he went to kid friendly restaurants. One thing we NEVER tolerated was for either of our children to disrupt the dining experience of others, even if it was just a trip to BK or Mickey D's.
Darla, on behalf of the 75 others present I applaud you. I understand why you did it and if I were ever to find myself in your neck of the woods I would stop and patronize your business as often as possible while there. However, next time yell at the real toddlers, the two people who chose to ignore the needs of their daughter.
We've all been there. Honestly, I don't understand why parents feel the need to drag their children EVERYWHERE. I had two wonderful, beautiful, amazing toddlers. One of them (who shall remain nameless but was an only child for a while) was the kind of toddler who could sit for hours with a few pickles and a pack of crackers until food arrived. Then she (oops I gave away too much here) would quietly eat her meal and just be adorable throughout. We brought her everywhere, pretty much. Our other child was not as self controlled, for several reasons. He was (again, the secret identities have been revealed) a typical rambunctious little boy. He liked to wander about, he didn't like to sit still, he didn't enjoy SITTING and eating crackers, he felt the need to share with the world. He was very outgoing and social. Did I mention rambunctious? We chose carefully where we took him, making sure he went to kid friendly restaurants. One thing we NEVER tolerated was for either of our children to disrupt the dining experience of others, even if it was just a trip to BK or Mickey D's.
Darla, on behalf of the 75 others present I applaud you. I understand why you did it and if I were ever to find myself in your neck of the woods I would stop and patronize your business as often as possible while there. However, next time yell at the real toddlers, the two people who chose to ignore the needs of their daughter.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Stop Picking on Me (or how we've softened a whole generation of kids)
Oh, the times they are a changin'. Armour hot dog song circa 1967: "Hot dogs, Armour hot dogs what kind of kids eat Armour hot dogs? Fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks. Tough kids, Sissy kids, even kids with chicken pox love hot dogs...Armour hot dogs, the dogs kids love to bite."
Can you imagine if this jingle were used now? Sales of Armour hot dogs would plummet, people would picket the corporate headquarters demanding an apology on behalf of their cherub children everywhere and then the vaccination folks (pro and con) would point out why it is good/bad for kids to have chicken pox. The hashtag would go something like this: #armourhotdogmean or #hotdogbullies. I can see it now, Trending on Facebook would say, Armour Hot Dog Belittles Children, Calls them Fat and Sissies! There would be a bunch of YouTube videos calling Armour out for fat shaming.
The politicians would be racing to introduce legislation making it illegal for corporations to stop any advertising that may cause any irreparable harm to the psyche of young children. Of course, Michele Obama would remind everyone that we shouldn't be serving the children hot dogs anyway, as they have little nutritional value and should be immediately stricken from the federal school lunch program (true as it may be...150 calories, 13g fat, 4g protien and a whopping 550g sodium), but still well within the parameters for the federal lunch program as it is now written. The news stations would post updates on facebook all afternoon with pictures of the federal government pulling computers and file boxes out of the corporate offices. They would ask, "Do you think Armour should be pulled from shelves?" baiting us to argue with each other.
The text in red is my little "in defense of the lowly hot dog" and is not germane to the rest of the article, but nevertheless necessary in my opinion, feel free to skip it...except the part about my friend Melanie's Blog, In Pursuit of Maine:
[Let me take a moment to clarify that hot dogs indeed get a bad rap. Everyone has seen the Facebook drivel that warns that hot dogs are made of lips, hooves, organs, etc. It's not true. According to the FDA website there are standards that all hot dog producers must adhere to, including what can be used in the making of said sausage. Frank Focus: What's Really in a Hot Dog by Allison Ford (thanks to my friend Melanie Lee, author of In Pursuit of Maine Blog, I have inserted actual links...she reminded me about the handy dandy link button...now click on her link, it's an awesome blog) explains that "the basic ingredients in the average supermarket hot dog are far less exciting that what some fearmongers would have you believe." Ms. Ford goes on to explain that the ingredients contain meat (of course, not filet mignon, but meat just the same), fillers like flour or cereal...although most hot dogs I've seen are gluten free so they aren't using wheat products; seasonings, spices, binding and curing agents.]
We have become so politically correct, so sensitive to offending or being offended that we have become a country of victims. I will not minimize the victimization of whole groups of people, that is not my point. My point is, why are we so sensitive? Why is everything offensive? Why must we look to every thing as a personal attack? We need to lighten up. We need to learn to laugh at ourselves and WITH others. When you get down to it, we all wish for the same thing, that is to be "an Oscar Mayer Wiener, that is all I truly wish to be, 'cause if I were an Oscar Mayer Wiener, then everyone would be in love with me." (Admit it, you sang that in your head when you read it!)
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Why Bill, Why? (or how the justice system failed EVERYONE)
By now everyone has heard that Bill Cosby admitted to using Quaaludes to drug a woman back in the 70's. He claimed, in his deposition, that she met him backstage, he gave her (does not indicate whether she requested it, or if he slipped it in her drink, etc) the drug and they had sex. First, let me state equivocally that is is NOT okay to have sex with someone who is unable to give clear consent. Let me also state that in the 70's 'ludes were very popular.
David Herzberg wrote an interesting article called "Quaalude Nostalgia: A Retro Drug That Everyone Remembers Fondly." In the article found at http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/quaalude-nostalgia-a-retro-drug-that-everyone-remembers-fondly/252285/ he explains first the history of methaqualone, the generic name of Quaalude, William H. Rorer Pharmaceutical's brand name. It was synthesized by Indian researchers in 1951 but was unprotected by patent which led to Japanese and European pharmaceutical companies grabbing it up. It was introduced to America in 1965. Adam K. Raymond writes, in his article found at http://www.thefix.com/content/where-are-they-now-drugs-edition7098 that 'ludes were prescribed as a sedative and to treat insomnia. They became prized recreational drugs once people found out they both lowered inhibition and increased physical sensitivity. Raymond notes that by the mid-70's around four million Quaalude prescriptions were written each year. He goes on to say that bars with names like "The Inferno" and "Fudge Factory" started popping up in New York so people could dance and pop 'ludes together.
The drug remained an ordinary prescription-only drug until 1972. So when the press notes that Cosby had seven prescriptions for Quaaludes it wasn't that fantastic, it was particularly popular with the celebrity crowd. However, when abuse had become quite evident medical journals and newspapers began reporting about an "epidemic" so Congress convened hearings and changed methaqualone to a Schedule II Controlled Substance by the end of 1973. The DEA also aggressively lowered domestic production quotas each year after.
Now, considering the history of the recreational use of 'ludes we can not assume that Cosby thought, first, there was anything wrong with sharing them, or that she did not willingly take them. Of course, again, let me state, that I am not blaming the victim. She was in no condition, under the influence of a sedative, to consent. My point is that the media is oversimplifying Cosby's "drugging" his victims. Which brings up another point, she is the only one, and not mentioned by name I might add, with whom he has admitted to giving drugs and having sex. Stay with me here because in about two more sentences I'm going to piss off the greater portion of the celebrity worshiping population. Finally, let me say, that one of the Internet "news" headlines was "The Jig is Up: Why the Media Were Right to Convict Bill Cosby." NO, Howard Kurtz of Foxnews.com (just saw the feed in Google news, don't regularly visit). NEVER is it okay for the Media to convict or even take an opinion on a news story. But that's a rattle for another day.
Okay, here's where I piss a bunch of people off. Ready? Bill, why didn't you just pay the ladies off and hide out in Switzerland for a while? That's what Michael Jackson did. He was accused by no less than 20 MINORS...20 young boys. It is said that he paid $200 million dollars to his victims to keep them quiet. And yet he is still worshiped by many, there are television specials devoted to him, his music still tops the charts, people still write beautiful posts about him on the anniversary of his death. Why? Because he had the foresight to pay off his victims in exchange for silence and then die young. Michael Jackson should be held to the same standard as Cosby. Okay, I know, you're thinking where are her websites of information backing up these claims? Here ya go:
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2015/04/06/michael-jackson-allegedly-paid-200-million-20-child-sex-abuse-victims
http://www.etonline.com/news/162324_michael_jackson_accused_of_paying_millions_hush_money_to_alleged_molestation_victims/
http://www.people.com/article/new-sexual-abuse-claims-against-michael-jackson
http://www.inquisitr.com/1944509/michael-jackson-molestation-accusations-timeline/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2716878/Australian-choreographer-alleges-molested-Michael-Jackson.html
http://nypost.com/2014/08/10/michael-jacksons-ex-maids-reveal-madness-at-neverland/
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/michael-jackson-ex-maid-sex-abuse-accuser-played-dress-up-king-pop-article-1.1796671
Michael Jackson's victims (okay, alleged) and Bills Cosby's victims (again, alleged) have been failed by the system as well as their families and the celebrities that abused them. They have also been failed by the media. Jackson's victims didn't stand a snowballs chance in hell after Jackson was deified in the media. Meanwhile Cosby was immediately vilified by the same hacks. Now it's Jared's turn. Hey Jared, you're screwed.
David Herzberg wrote an interesting article called "Quaalude Nostalgia: A Retro Drug That Everyone Remembers Fondly." In the article found at http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/02/quaalude-nostalgia-a-retro-drug-that-everyone-remembers-fondly/252285/ he explains first the history of methaqualone, the generic name of Quaalude, William H. Rorer Pharmaceutical's brand name. It was synthesized by Indian researchers in 1951 but was unprotected by patent which led to Japanese and European pharmaceutical companies grabbing it up. It was introduced to America in 1965. Adam K. Raymond writes, in his article found at http://www.thefix.com/content/where-are-they-now-drugs-edition7098 that 'ludes were prescribed as a sedative and to treat insomnia. They became prized recreational drugs once people found out they both lowered inhibition and increased physical sensitivity. Raymond notes that by the mid-70's around four million Quaalude prescriptions were written each year. He goes on to say that bars with names like "The Inferno" and "Fudge Factory" started popping up in New York so people could dance and pop 'ludes together.
The drug remained an ordinary prescription-only drug until 1972. So when the press notes that Cosby had seven prescriptions for Quaaludes it wasn't that fantastic, it was particularly popular with the celebrity crowd. However, when abuse had become quite evident medical journals and newspapers began reporting about an "epidemic" so Congress convened hearings and changed methaqualone to a Schedule II Controlled Substance by the end of 1973. The DEA also aggressively lowered domestic production quotas each year after.
Now, considering the history of the recreational use of 'ludes we can not assume that Cosby thought, first, there was anything wrong with sharing them, or that she did not willingly take them. Of course, again, let me state, that I am not blaming the victim. She was in no condition, under the influence of a sedative, to consent. My point is that the media is oversimplifying Cosby's "drugging" his victims. Which brings up another point, she is the only one, and not mentioned by name I might add, with whom he has admitted to giving drugs and having sex. Stay with me here because in about two more sentences I'm going to piss off the greater portion of the celebrity worshiping population. Finally, let me say, that one of the Internet "news" headlines was "The Jig is Up: Why the Media Were Right to Convict Bill Cosby." NO, Howard Kurtz of Foxnews.com (just saw the feed in Google news, don't regularly visit). NEVER is it okay for the Media to convict or even take an opinion on a news story. But that's a rattle for another day.
Okay, here's where I piss a bunch of people off. Ready? Bill, why didn't you just pay the ladies off and hide out in Switzerland for a while? That's what Michael Jackson did. He was accused by no less than 20 MINORS...20 young boys. It is said that he paid $200 million dollars to his victims to keep them quiet. And yet he is still worshiped by many, there are television specials devoted to him, his music still tops the charts, people still write beautiful posts about him on the anniversary of his death. Why? Because he had the foresight to pay off his victims in exchange for silence and then die young. Michael Jackson should be held to the same standard as Cosby. Okay, I know, you're thinking where are her websites of information backing up these claims? Here ya go:
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2015/04/06/michael-jackson-allegedly-paid-200-million-20-child-sex-abuse-victims
http://www.etonline.com/news/162324_michael_jackson_accused_of_paying_millions_hush_money_to_alleged_molestation_victims/
http://www.people.com/article/new-sexual-abuse-claims-against-michael-jackson
http://www.inquisitr.com/1944509/michael-jackson-molestation-accusations-timeline/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2716878/Australian-choreographer-alleges-molested-Michael-Jackson.html
http://nypost.com/2014/08/10/michael-jacksons-ex-maids-reveal-madness-at-neverland/
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/michael-jackson-ex-maid-sex-abuse-accuser-played-dress-up-king-pop-article-1.1796671
Michael Jackson's victims (okay, alleged) and Bills Cosby's victims (again, alleged) have been failed by the system as well as their families and the celebrities that abused them. They have also been failed by the media. Jackson's victims didn't stand a snowballs chance in hell after Jackson was deified in the media. Meanwhile Cosby was immediately vilified by the same hacks. Now it's Jared's turn. Hey Jared, you're screwed.
Friday, July 3, 2015
My Addiction (or why I can't go fifteen minutes without checking Facebook)
Hi, I'm Mary and I'm a Facebook-aholic. That's how I imagine a meeting of us Facebook addicts would begin. Of course it would be done in a group message on FB Messenger. We would all need to be able to see our wall while we're discussing how Facebook is negatively affecting our lives. Of course, in a moment of complete honesty I'd have to admit to my addiction to Criminal Case, Words with Friends, Trivia Crack and Candy Crush Saga (many imitators...none to equal the allure of matching a striped and wrapped candy...oh the explosion!).
One of the most recent additions to Facebook includes "trending," items that apparently are so popular you must look, FB is telling you that these items are what all the popular kids are into right now. So today, for example, seems everyone is very interested in Caitlyn Jenner's every move, particularly her attendance at a Broadway performance in...wait for it...New York. They specify New York, as if there is another Broadway where they have "performances." Anyway, approximately a quarter of a million people attend Broadway shows during any given week. I'm guessing Caitlyn Jenner wasn't the only person in attendance, nor was she the only celebrity in attendance. Nevertheless, we find it necessary to follow her every move. Why? I think the bigger question is why does FB want us to believe that this is a news item? Is it cool to follow the transgendered now? Why can't she just live a normal life? Seems this is what she is after since transitioning from Bruce Jenner, Olympic Champ to Caitlyn Jenner, no job listed...to live a normal, girl next door kind of life. Let her be, for goodness sake.
Next, in keeping with a theme of sorts is the story, of Aly Raisman, who, apparently, is another Olympian and, I'm guessing, a woman. This one, however, has bared all (literally) for ESPN's Magazine body issue. Well, it IS the BODY issue. Truth in advertising, I guess. Besides, she's only about half a yard of material less clad than most images on Facebook anyway. I mean, seriously, did you see Caitlyn Jenner's magazine cover photo plastered all over FB?
Lest we forget the quizzes to help us discover which Superbowl performer we are (honest to goodness this is the last one I saw on my wall just a few minutes ago, told you I was an addict) ...or what our dream job should be...or our 50's name in an alternate universe if we live to be 100 would be. Which Disney Princess are you? I don't know, my bigger concern is which Disney Princess is Caitlynn Jenner. Seems to be far more pressing than my inner princess.
Then there's all the hot button issues that serve to divide us. Here's a partial list: Gay marriage (yay or nay, both sides are equally obnoxious); Pro life (or anti abortion if you are against abortion but wish to personally turn the switch for the electric chair); Police (nothing in particular and yet everything at once -- talk about damned if you do and damned if you don't); $15.00 minimum wage for fast food workers (and the argument that EMT's, soldiers in the US Army and firefighters will make less); drug testing for people on welfare (although the aforementioned seem to have pushed this one to the back burner); gun control (most statistics about other countries that have extreme gun control are misleading, those "facts" need to be researched better before sharing, just saying); vaccinations (I'm begging you PLEASE do some research and don't rely on the one and only source that tells you that the vaccines are the cause of all that is wrong with this world, look at the SCIENCE) and the removal of the Confederate flag (pssst...southerners, it's over and you didn't "win"). All of these issues really do nothing more than distract us from what is really going on. As we ramp up for a presidential election it is going to get just plain ugly out there, too! I hear Caitlyn Jenner is thinking of running, once she gets used to the heels.
I am going to close this meeting with a quick prayer...Mark Zuckerberg grant me the ability to accept all truths as posted on Facebook, courage to voice my opinion about EVERYTHING and the wisdom to update my status often.
Now I've got to run, Cailtyn Jenner is going to have a live question and answer period in a few minutes.
One of the most recent additions to Facebook includes "trending," items that apparently are so popular you must look, FB is telling you that these items are what all the popular kids are into right now. So today, for example, seems everyone is very interested in Caitlyn Jenner's every move, particularly her attendance at a Broadway performance in...wait for it...New York. They specify New York, as if there is another Broadway where they have "performances." Anyway, approximately a quarter of a million people attend Broadway shows during any given week. I'm guessing Caitlyn Jenner wasn't the only person in attendance, nor was she the only celebrity in attendance. Nevertheless, we find it necessary to follow her every move. Why? I think the bigger question is why does FB want us to believe that this is a news item? Is it cool to follow the transgendered now? Why can't she just live a normal life? Seems this is what she is after since transitioning from Bruce Jenner, Olympic Champ to Caitlyn Jenner, no job listed...to live a normal, girl next door kind of life. Let her be, for goodness sake.
Next, in keeping with a theme of sorts is the story, of Aly Raisman, who, apparently, is another Olympian and, I'm guessing, a woman. This one, however, has bared all (literally) for ESPN's Magazine body issue. Well, it IS the BODY issue. Truth in advertising, I guess. Besides, she's only about half a yard of material less clad than most images on Facebook anyway. I mean, seriously, did you see Caitlyn Jenner's magazine cover photo plastered all over FB?
Lest we forget the quizzes to help us discover which Superbowl performer we are (honest to goodness this is the last one I saw on my wall just a few minutes ago, told you I was an addict) ...or what our dream job should be...or our 50's name in an alternate universe if we live to be 100 would be. Which Disney Princess are you? I don't know, my bigger concern is which Disney Princess is Caitlynn Jenner. Seems to be far more pressing than my inner princess.
Then there's all the hot button issues that serve to divide us. Here's a partial list: Gay marriage (yay or nay, both sides are equally obnoxious); Pro life (or anti abortion if you are against abortion but wish to personally turn the switch for the electric chair); Police (nothing in particular and yet everything at once -- talk about damned if you do and damned if you don't); $15.00 minimum wage for fast food workers (and the argument that EMT's, soldiers in the US Army and firefighters will make less); drug testing for people on welfare (although the aforementioned seem to have pushed this one to the back burner); gun control (most statistics about other countries that have extreme gun control are misleading, those "facts" need to be researched better before sharing, just saying); vaccinations (I'm begging you PLEASE do some research and don't rely on the one and only source that tells you that the vaccines are the cause of all that is wrong with this world, look at the SCIENCE) and the removal of the Confederate flag (pssst...southerners, it's over and you didn't "win"). All of these issues really do nothing more than distract us from what is really going on. As we ramp up for a presidential election it is going to get just plain ugly out there, too! I hear Caitlyn Jenner is thinking of running, once she gets used to the heels.
I am going to close this meeting with a quick prayer...Mark Zuckerberg grant me the ability to accept all truths as posted on Facebook, courage to voice my opinion about EVERYTHING and the wisdom to update my status often.
Now I've got to run, Cailtyn Jenner is going to have a live question and answer period in a few minutes.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Money Making Machine of the Private Prison Industry (and how corporate America is using prisoners as Slave Labor)
Interesting factoid...did you know that private prisons are the biggest business in the prison industry complex? About 18 corporations guard 10,000 prisoners in 27 states. This privatization of prisons began with Ronald Reagan when he made it his life's work to cut the federal work force. It was further developed during Bush, Sr's years and then really took off with Bill Clinton. According to http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-prison-industry-in-the-united-states-big-business-or-a-new-form-of-slavery/8289 "Private prisons receive a guaranteed amount of money for each prisoner, independent of what it costs to maintain each one." They increase their profits by cutting down on staff. For example, a company called CCA has a beautiful new facility in Lawrenceville, Virginia where there are only five guards during the day and two at night to watch over 750 inmates. Further, "inmates may get their sentences reduced for 'good behavior,' but for any infraction, they get 30 days added - which means more profits for CCA. According to a study of New Mexico prisons, it was found that CCA inmates lost 'good behavior time' at a rate eight times higher than those in state prisons."
It gets better. It has become exceedingly profitable to import inmates with long sentences, which means the worst offenders are being moved around in a crazy game of chess...a very profitable game of chess. Mixed with these often violent offenders are those convicted of non-violent crimes. Worse, it is believed that more than half of the 623,000 inmates in municipal or county jails are innocent of the crimes they are accused of and the majority are awaiting trial.
Contributing to the tremendous increase in prisoners is the hefty sentences for rather minor offenses brought about by mandatory minimum sentencing. Drug offenses, first meant to target high level distributors, have worked to incarcerate all that are arrested with the "intent to distribute." Nearly 50% of the incarcerated are in for drug charges. In 2012 alone, almost 7,000 people were convicted in federal courts for marijuana offenses, more than any other type of drug. Ironically, more and more states are legalizing marijuana, yet the people incarcerated for possession of it will remain imprisoned until they complete the minimal 85% of their sentences. This contributes to the fact that the US has more people imprisoned than any other country in the the world.
The cost of keeping these prisoners is $29,000 per year per prisoner. The average sentence is nearly ten years. As a result we taxpayers pay over $50 billion annually for state prisons. The bottom line is, if we continue to make imprisonment profitable then rehabilitation is not an option. The companies that are running private prisons have a vested interest in recidivism and minimum sentencing. Meanwhile the safety of the general public is compromised while families are torn apart by lengthy jail sentences. Of course, do the crime, do the time is a given. However, we must rethink sentencing of non violent criminals and we need to stop making privatization profitable.
Contributing to the profitability of prisoners is the idea of prison labor. According to http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-prison-industry-in-the-united-states-big-business-or-a-new-form-of-slavery/8289 "At least 37 states have legalized the contracting of prison labor by private corporations that mount their operations inside state prisons." There is a laundry list of corporations that are using prison labor to cut costs including IBM, Boeing, Motorola, Microsoft, AT&T, Texas Instrument, Dell, Compaq, Honeywell, Hewlett-Packard, Nortel, Lucent Technologies, 3Com, Intel, Northern Telecom, TWA, Nordstrom's, Revlon, Macy's, Pierre Cardin, Target Stores and several others. Why is it so profitable? Because inmates get paid very little. In Colorado they get $2.00 per hour. In privately run prisons they receive as little as 17 cents per hour for a maximum of 6 hours. Some prisons do indeed pay their prisoners minimum wage, but that is still a huge cost savings for many corporations. It is so profitable that a company that operated an assembly plant in Mexico near the border closed down the operations there and relocated to San Quentin State Prison in California. In Texas, meanwhile, a factory fired its 150 workers and contracted the services of prisoner-workers from the private Lockhart Texas prison, where circuit boards are assembled for companies like IBM and Compaq.
Reform is necessary, but there's just no money in it!
It gets better. It has become exceedingly profitable to import inmates with long sentences, which means the worst offenders are being moved around in a crazy game of chess...a very profitable game of chess. Mixed with these often violent offenders are those convicted of non-violent crimes. Worse, it is believed that more than half of the 623,000 inmates in municipal or county jails are innocent of the crimes they are accused of and the majority are awaiting trial.
Contributing to the tremendous increase in prisoners is the hefty sentences for rather minor offenses brought about by mandatory minimum sentencing. Drug offenses, first meant to target high level distributors, have worked to incarcerate all that are arrested with the "intent to distribute." Nearly 50% of the incarcerated are in for drug charges. In 2012 alone, almost 7,000 people were convicted in federal courts for marijuana offenses, more than any other type of drug. Ironically, more and more states are legalizing marijuana, yet the people incarcerated for possession of it will remain imprisoned until they complete the minimal 85% of their sentences. This contributes to the fact that the US has more people imprisoned than any other country in the the world.
The cost of keeping these prisoners is $29,000 per year per prisoner. The average sentence is nearly ten years. As a result we taxpayers pay over $50 billion annually for state prisons. The bottom line is, if we continue to make imprisonment profitable then rehabilitation is not an option. The companies that are running private prisons have a vested interest in recidivism and minimum sentencing. Meanwhile the safety of the general public is compromised while families are torn apart by lengthy jail sentences. Of course, do the crime, do the time is a given. However, we must rethink sentencing of non violent criminals and we need to stop making privatization profitable.
Contributing to the profitability of prisoners is the idea of prison labor. According to http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-prison-industry-in-the-united-states-big-business-or-a-new-form-of-slavery/8289 "At least 37 states have legalized the contracting of prison labor by private corporations that mount their operations inside state prisons." There is a laundry list of corporations that are using prison labor to cut costs including IBM, Boeing, Motorola, Microsoft, AT&T, Texas Instrument, Dell, Compaq, Honeywell, Hewlett-Packard, Nortel, Lucent Technologies, 3Com, Intel, Northern Telecom, TWA, Nordstrom's, Revlon, Macy's, Pierre Cardin, Target Stores and several others. Why is it so profitable? Because inmates get paid very little. In Colorado they get $2.00 per hour. In privately run prisons they receive as little as 17 cents per hour for a maximum of 6 hours. Some prisons do indeed pay their prisoners minimum wage, but that is still a huge cost savings for many corporations. It is so profitable that a company that operated an assembly plant in Mexico near the border closed down the operations there and relocated to San Quentin State Prison in California. In Texas, meanwhile, a factory fired its 150 workers and contracted the services of prisoner-workers from the private Lockhart Texas prison, where circuit boards are assembled for companies like IBM and Compaq.
Reform is necessary, but there's just no money in it!
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Teenagers and Bowling
My teen aged son and seven of his friends went bowling tonight. They graduated from 8th grade and this is how they chose to celebrate, a group of them got together at Tonawanda Lanes and "bowled." I made the mistake of thinking they were there to Bowl. I mean, we were at a bowling alley, they had the shoes, they chose the balls. Pretty sure that means someone's going to bowl. Alas, I was wrong. They did roll the balls down the lanes and some managed to knock a few pins down. I tried giving advice. Where does my expertise come from? College. Yes, I took a course in bowling. I needed a PhysEd credit and I certainly didn't want to get physical so I took bowling. So I know technique, I know how to hold the ball, I learned how to adjust for spin and all that. I tried. Good God, I tried. It was about half way through the first game that I realized they didn't really want to learn to bowl. They wanted to take selfies with each other and socialize. They wanted to feel like big kids, I mean they're technically in high school now, right? So, they did just that. They laughed, they joked, they shared food, they danced around and in between they bowled. I enjoyed every minute of it, all the silliness, all the noise, the giggles and guffaws. It was awesome to see kids out being kids. I'm not so old I don't remember what it was like to be a kid. I'm glad I decided to be the chaperon. And I'm now the cool mom. That's quite an honor. Glad I had the opportunity to glimpse into the life of teens and remember.
Welcome to Rattled My Cage
Welcome. I was always taught if you are going to threaten consequences you'd better be prepared to follow through. So here I am, following through. I threatened to start a blog and here it is. I spent a good full half hour considering the title and it dawned on me when I was on Facebook. I saw an article, and I started to comment and thought better of it. I thought, man this really rattles my cage. EUREKA! A title! And that is the story of my blog title.
So what was the article? BBC World News posted an article that had this catchy status, "It's time we took seriously the issue of paternal age and its effect on the next generation of children." Then check out the headline, "Freeze Sperm at 18 Bioethicists Urges Men". Hmmm....really? Wait, they're blaming old dads for an increase in autism? FINALLY IT'S NOT THE MOMS FAULT! I thought that we were to blame for everything. When I was having my son I heard the words every women dreads. "Advanced Maternal Age." Look, I didn't take LSD or smoke crack, I merely celebrated a birthday or two more than the other tart in the waiting room. I can't help it if I wasn't "catching" pregnant until 8 years after my daughter was born! So get this...if you think I was old, upon hearing that I was expecting our son my husband said, "You gotta be kidding me, I'll have to get a day pass from the nursing home to play with my kid!" Not once, though, did my doctor mention "Advanced Paternal Age" in that soft, accusatory tone. NOT ONCE! He saved, that all for me. He was also the guy that didn't come into the delivery room until the last minute because he heard me "sounding like you were in pain." You're in the wrong business, pal. Anyway, back to the article. Here's what my comment was going to be. "STOP. Just stop and let people make babies the way we always made babies when we wanted to make said babies." Truth be told, there will be some nice teen aged boys making babies at prime sperm time...but that certainly doesn't make the good daddies, just boys with good sperm. So I suggest we continue as we have for all of time and make our babies, raise our babies and send them off in the world to continue this time honored tradition...advanced in age or not!
So what was the article? BBC World News posted an article that had this catchy status, "It's time we took seriously the issue of paternal age and its effect on the next generation of children." Then check out the headline, "Freeze Sperm at 18 Bioethicists Urges Men". Hmmm....really? Wait, they're blaming old dads for an increase in autism? FINALLY IT'S NOT THE MOMS FAULT! I thought that we were to blame for everything. When I was having my son I heard the words every women dreads. "Advanced Maternal Age." Look, I didn't take LSD or smoke crack, I merely celebrated a birthday or two more than the other tart in the waiting room. I can't help it if I wasn't "catching" pregnant until 8 years after my daughter was born! So get this...if you think I was old, upon hearing that I was expecting our son my husband said, "You gotta be kidding me, I'll have to get a day pass from the nursing home to play with my kid!" Not once, though, did my doctor mention "Advanced Paternal Age" in that soft, accusatory tone. NOT ONCE! He saved, that all for me. He was also the guy that didn't come into the delivery room until the last minute because he heard me "sounding like you were in pain." You're in the wrong business, pal. Anyway, back to the article. Here's what my comment was going to be. "STOP. Just stop and let people make babies the way we always made babies when we wanted to make said babies." Truth be told, there will be some nice teen aged boys making babies at prime sperm time...but that certainly doesn't make the good daddies, just boys with good sperm. So I suggest we continue as we have for all of time and make our babies, raise our babies and send them off in the world to continue this time honored tradition...advanced in age or not!
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