The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[katiesue]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

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

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

[scaeagles]

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.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

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.

Just to give equal time to white collar crime, we also don't blow out the brains of corrupt executives and government officials like they do in China.

Originally Posted by scaeagles

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

I agree, but this doesn't mean that the penalty isn't there. If you're suggesting that jail isn't a harsh enough punishment, I disagree. None of my clients like being in jail or having been in jail. Nonetheless, they often have served prior jail or prison terms. They all know people in jail or prison. I think it comes down to the fact that a lot of our poor criminal class has no investment in the larger social structure, and they just can't put two and two together. I don't know that it would be meaningfully different if we started chopping off hands.

[Alex]

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 ****?

[scaeagles]

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.

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

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.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Take minor drug offenders out of prison...

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!

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

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!

With the excpetion of humping Baez....

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

With the excpetion of humping Baez....

lol!

[Ghoulish Delight]

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.