Interesting.
Tehachapi has windmills too. Half of them are defunct.

Certainly. I would suspect, however, that most of those who live under oppressive governments are too fearful to even consider breaking the law and perhaps don't have the chance because of societal controls.

OK I'm dying. Because my best friend's dad - was totally invseted in the Techachapi windmill thing. And he's from Susanville. Egads.

Not sure what you mean by this unless you mean that crime in America is somehow an expression of our freedom. The rhetoric behind all anti-crime legislation in this country is certainly as harsh, punitive and, occasionally, cruel as anything you'd expect to hear in Islamic countries, China, Singapore, etc.

I disagree. We don't chop off hands for stealing. I'm not suggesting that we begin doing that, but I would guess that if every kid who stole from a convenience store was missing a hand, other kids might think twice about doing it. That person who has their hand chopped off doesn't go to prison in whatever country, their punishment is immediate and physical.

I don't think crime is necessarily an expression of freedom, but often times occurs because of lack of fear of penalty.

Wait, so us having more people in prison than any other country is a sign that people are able to act without fear of penalty?

Why isn't it just a sign that we put people in jail for a lot of stupid ****?

It is as well. I'm just saying that when someone steals something, they can go to jail. Elsewhere jail doesn't happen, it's caning or chopping a hand off or some other form of physical punishment. All I'm saying is that's a contributing factor. I would also regard it as stupid to put someone in prison for daring to look and spread information on democracy.

Take minor drug offenders out of prison and I wonder what the percentage is then. That's not meant to be rhetorical, i really do wonder.

I imagine it would reduce it by a substantial amount.

I saw one stat, not sure about its accuracy, that figured there are about 1.5 million prisoners in for non-violent drug offenses.

ETA: Nevermind, that's a total number incarcerated, not total number currently in jail.

Leo! Why you're nothing but a long-haired, hemp smoking, Joan Baez humping, barefooted hippie caked with the mud from the grounds of Woodstock!





:D