- Jan 25, 2009
- 19,765
- 1,428
- Faith
- Oriental Orthodox
- Marital Status
- Private
- Politics
- US-Others
I have often wondered how the President will ensure that he has a memorable legacy - and in processing the issue, what is surprising to me is that people on ALL sides have often ignored one the biggest issues that not only needs to be dealt with ...but that would ensure real change on the long term - and that change is with our American prison systems.
To be clear, I think part of establishing a good legacy is getting the finances placed in the right areas - as all sides have shown they don't have a problem spending and really it's more of an issue of showing where they want to have funding go. Getting immigration reform passed - with the Dream Act back on the table (in light of the many ways Latinos/Hispanics supported him on a myriad of ways he has already aided them ...more here/here) - is a big deal and something he needs to take seriously.
Howevwer, alongside immigration reform as a big focus, the president needs to do A LOT more focus on the ways that prison reform is in need of serious aid - especially as it concerns all the people complaining on higher taxes and the cry for spending less on social service programs (wrongly concluding that it's wrong for government to help) and yet remaining MUTE on the myriad of ways they won't address significant spending when it comes to the prison industrial complex which is harming minorities at substantial levels. It's sad enough that over 200,000 undocumented immigrants were detained last year in the two largest private prisons that are being backed by big investment banks such as Citigroup, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and WellsFargo. ..and thus, while a lot of Republicans have issue with immigration reform, you don't hear any talk on prisoners being wrongly utilized.
Private businesses are making vast amounts of money running prisons to incarcerate non-violent drug offenders -with the Drug War being one of the greatest waste of money/resources (billions) and yet still allowed to occur since it targets other groups. This represents a huge waste of money. Litigator-turned-legal-scholar Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, argues well that we have not ended racial caste in America, but instead we have simply redesigned it: The U.S. criminal justice system functions as a contemporary means of racial control, even as it formally adheres to the principle of color blindness. Her provocative new book challenges the civil rights community—and all of us—to place mass incarceration at the forefront of a new movement for racial justice in America. As the United States celebrates the nation's triumph over race with the election of Barack Obama, the majority of young black men in major American cities are locked behind bars or have been labeled felons for life......and can't find work once they get out of prison (even if/when they reform in prison and seek education to take care of their families on the outside - and thus, stay trapped in a system of corruption).
The Prison-Industrial complex is doing much damage to the nation on so many levels and it needs to end...as Michelle Alexander noted wisely. Other scholars, such as Dr. Boyce Watkins, have said that President OBama is Fueling the Prison Industrial Complex. However, the proposed increase spending by the Obama Administration will be mostly used for much-needed ex-felon reëntry programs per the Second Chance Act signed into law on April 9, 2008. Moreover, the increased spending will also target the mentally ill caught-up in the judicial system, by introducing more diversion programs. And of the 2 million or so people incarcerated in America, a significant number of them are mentally ill - with it seeming to be the case that President Obama'S administration is attempting to reduce the number of individuals who would ordinarily be incarcerated by the 40-year-long failed drug war.
According to the White House:
It isn't a negative thing seeking to help men and women transition back into society upon release from prison, nor is it negative to attempt filling prisons/jails with others providing services for the mentally ill. But to address the issues from the root as it concerns the ways prison is being a privatized industry and many are denied education and punished as a result with prison ...those things must be faced head -on. And although President Obama has sought to address the issue in various ways, from Responsible Fatherhood Programs (more shared here, here, here and here) to reforming the Educational System, much more work is needed.
For other articles on the issue:
We have the money for a lot of things...but because the priorities aren't right in other areas, it messes up the entire equation on what a balanced budget looks like. Curtailing those things would do a lot as it concerns opening up resources for financial aid. A lot of what is occurring is similar to what happened in the film "Shawshank Redeemption" where the Warden begins exploiting prison labor for public works, profiting by undercutting skilled labor costs and receiving kickbacks ...very much like it is today when privatized prisons use prison labor for cheap work - and have the benefit of prisoners being seen as having no rights whatsoever to protest and having others involved in it such as Walmart and ALEC since billions are often made behind bars ..especially from migrants placed in jail - as discussed elsewhere in #102 / #108 ).
Although the president has sought to aid more funding on helping prisoners out as it concerns social services out, it'd really make a clear statement that he's for helping us get back on a balanced budget while also aiding people by cutting funding to practices that truly do damage - as opposed to doing what many have done when seeing a budget and thinking "Well, lets cut services to the elderly/disabled and destitute since we'd save money and make more jobs!!" and yet not considering how the jobs they give money to already harm others and take away from funding to other opportunities that need investment.
I think it'd make a BIG difference if spending was taken away substantially from the privatization of prison systems (the prison industrial complex ) since BILLIONS of dollars are placed there alongside many others - often unjustly - since prison is a business and many BIG Businesses cash in on it. And as long as much in the way of financial support is going toward that, there'll be less funding for other necessary things ...with others trying to "fix" that by taking away from programs that need to be funded for the benefit of those in need/destitute (i.e. widows, orphans, disabled, veterans, elderly, etc.) when it comes to social welfare programs - predominately the ones focused on Welfare Reform and doing well.
Whether you agree or disagree, if you want to share thoughts, you're more than welcome. Shalom...
To be clear, I think part of establishing a good legacy is getting the finances placed in the right areas - as all sides have shown they don't have a problem spending and really it's more of an issue of showing where they want to have funding go. Getting immigration reform passed - with the Dream Act back on the table (in light of the many ways Latinos/Hispanics supported him on a myriad of ways he has already aided them ...more here/here) - is a big deal and something he needs to take seriously.
Howevwer, alongside immigration reform as a big focus, the president needs to do A LOT more focus on the ways that prison reform is in need of serious aid - especially as it concerns all the people complaining on higher taxes and the cry for spending less on social service programs (wrongly concluding that it's wrong for government to help) and yet remaining MUTE on the myriad of ways they won't address significant spending when it comes to the prison industrial complex which is harming minorities at substantial levels. It's sad enough that over 200,000 undocumented immigrants were detained last year in the two largest private prisons that are being backed by big investment banks such as Citigroup, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and WellsFargo. ..and thus, while a lot of Republicans have issue with immigration reform, you don't hear any talk on prisoners being wrongly utilized.
Private businesses are making vast amounts of money running prisons to incarcerate non-violent drug offenders -with the Drug War being one of the greatest waste of money/resources (billions) and yet still allowed to occur since it targets other groups. This represents a huge waste of money. Litigator-turned-legal-scholar Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, argues well that we have not ended racial caste in America, but instead we have simply redesigned it: The U.S. criminal justice system functions as a contemporary means of racial control, even as it formally adheres to the principle of color blindness. Her provocative new book challenges the civil rights community—and all of us—to place mass incarceration at the forefront of a new movement for racial justice in America. As the United States celebrates the nation's triumph over race with the election of Barack Obama, the majority of young black men in major American cities are locked behind bars or have been labeled felons for life......and can't find work once they get out of prison (even if/when they reform in prison and seek education to take care of their families on the outside - and thus, stay trapped in a system of corruption).
Prisoners: America's New Cheap Labor (ALEC Exposed)
Between Barack and a Hard Place: Challenging Racism, Privilege and Denial in the Age of Obama
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Michelle Alexander: Drug War Racism
American Drug War:The Last White Hope (a kevin booth film)
Michelle Alexander on the War on Drugs and the Politics Behind It
Between Barack and a Hard Place: Challenging Racism, Privilege and Denial in the Age of Obama
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Michelle Alexander: Drug War Racism
American Drug War:The Last White Hope (a kevin booth film)
Michelle Alexander on the War on Drugs and the Politics Behind It
The Prison-Industrial complex is doing much damage to the nation on so many levels and it needs to end...as Michelle Alexander noted wisely. Other scholars, such as Dr. Boyce Watkins, have said that President OBama is Fueling the Prison Industrial Complex. However, the proposed increase spending by the Obama Administration will be mostly used for much-needed ex-felon reëntry programs per the Second Chance Act signed into law on April 9, 2008. Moreover, the increased spending will also target the mentally ill caught-up in the judicial system, by introducing more diversion programs. And of the 2 million or so people incarcerated in America, a significant number of them are mentally ill - with it seeming to be the case that President Obama'S administration is attempting to reduce the number of individuals who would ordinarily be incarcerated by the 40-year-long failed drug war.
According to the White House:
The Budget provides $153 million in prisoner reëntry and jail diversion programs, including $80 million for the Second Chance Act programs and $52 million for problem-solving grants supporting drug courts, mentally ill offender assistance, and other problem-solving approaches. With 2.3 million people in U.S. prisons and 1 in 32 American adults under some kind of correctional supervision, these programs aim to divert individuals from incarceration, reduce recidivism, and achieve public safety in a more sensible way.
It isn't a negative thing seeking to help men and women transition back into society upon release from prison, nor is it negative to attempt filling prisons/jails with others providing services for the mentally ill. But to address the issues from the root as it concerns the ways prison is being a privatized industry and many are denied education and punished as a result with prison ...those things must be faced head -on. And although President Obama has sought to address the issue in various ways, from Responsible Fatherhood Programs (more shared here, here, here and here) to reforming the Educational System, much more work is needed.
For other articles on the issue:
- The Economics of Incarceration By Nile Bowie
- We have the military industrial complex and we have the prison industrial complex
- Profit Driven Prison Industrial Complex: The Economics of Incarceration in the USA
- Best of TomDispatch: Michelle Alexander, The Age of Obama as a Racial Nightmare ...
- Start Debating the Prison-Industrial Complex by Ralph Nader + Professional Prisoners in Russia
We have the money for a lot of things...but because the priorities aren't right in other areas, it messes up the entire equation on what a balanced budget looks like. Curtailing those things would do a lot as it concerns opening up resources for financial aid. A lot of what is occurring is similar to what happened in the film "Shawshank Redeemption" where the Warden begins exploiting prison labor for public works, profiting by undercutting skilled labor costs and receiving kickbacks ...very much like it is today when privatized prisons use prison labor for cheap work - and have the benefit of prisoners being seen as having no rights whatsoever to protest and having others involved in it such as Walmart and ALEC since billions are often made behind bars ..especially from migrants placed in jail - as discussed elsewhere in #102 / #108 ).
Although the president has sought to aid more funding on helping prisoners out as it concerns social services out, it'd really make a clear statement that he's for helping us get back on a balanced budget while also aiding people by cutting funding to practices that truly do damage - as opposed to doing what many have done when seeing a budget and thinking "Well, lets cut services to the elderly/disabled and destitute since we'd save money and make more jobs!!" and yet not considering how the jobs they give money to already harm others and take away from funding to other opportunities that need investment.
I think it'd make a BIG difference if spending was taken away substantially from the privatization of prison systems (the prison industrial complex ) since BILLIONS of dollars are placed there alongside many others - often unjustly - since prison is a business and many BIG Businesses cash in on it. And as long as much in the way of financial support is going toward that, there'll be less funding for other necessary things ...with others trying to "fix" that by taking away from programs that need to be funded for the benefit of those in need/destitute (i.e. widows, orphans, disabled, veterans, elderly, etc.) when it comes to social welfare programs - predominately the ones focused on Welfare Reform and doing well.
Whether you agree or disagree, if you want to share thoughts, you're more than welcome. Shalom...
Last edited: