Comments on: US: Prison Central http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:49:55 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: kiwigirl http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-158706 kiwigirl Sat, 09 Aug 2008 00:44:49 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-158706 Japan is far freer than the US? Having a loved one in prison in Japan I would dispute that. I am 11 hours away from Japan & I am not allowed phone calls with him. A woman I know recently lost a son, her other son in a Japanese prison was not even allowed a phone call with his mother when he heard his brother had died. Cruel! Also being punished in prison for not closing ones legs when sitting working in the factory (forced labour) - days in solitary confinement. How many men sit with their legs closed? Cruel! So forgive me if I am hesitant to believe that Japan is 'far freer than the land of the free'. Japan is far freer than the US? Having a loved one in prison in Japan I would dispute that. I am 11 hours away from Japan & I am not allowed phone calls with him. A woman I know recently lost a son, her other son in a Japanese prison was not even allowed a phone call with his mother when he heard his brother had died. Cruel! Also being punished in prison for not closing ones legs when sitting working in the factory (forced labour) – days in solitary confinement. How many men sit with their legs closed? Cruel! So forgive me if I am hesitant to believe that Japan is ‘far freer than the land of the free’.

]]> By: Joe Schembrie http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-11432 Joe Schembrie Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:52:37 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-11432 I agree that it's wrong for Iran to punish people for consensual activities. So let's take a look at those statistics again. The US has a prison population rate of 715 per 100,000, while Iran is at only 194. The difference is 519 prisoners per 100,000. If the US changed its criminal justice system to the Iranian standard, we would release 1.56 million prisoners who were convicted of what most likely were merely consensual crimes! Even if only 1% of that number has had their life expectancy cut short by incarceration -- by the stress of beatings and rapes, and so much more that is the hell of prison life -- then that's 15,000 people who were convicted of the crime of minding their own business, then have been de facto executed by the US criminal justice system. The 194 prisoners per 100,000 in Iran is probably too high a rate in itself. But it's a sad day in the Land of the Free when a comparison with the legal system of a repressive Islamic Republic indicates that we have 1.5 million more prisoners for consensual activities than they do. The argument is not that Iran is 'freer' than America. The argument is that, here at home, we got some fixin' to do. Ron Paul 2008. I agree that it’s wrong for Iran to punish people for consensual activities. So let’s take a look at those statistics again.

The US has a prison population rate of 715 per 100,000, while Iran is at only 194. The difference is 519 prisoners per 100,000. If the US changed its criminal justice system to the Iranian standard, we would release 1.56 million prisoners who were convicted of what most likely were merely consensual crimes!

Even if only 1% of that number has had their life expectancy cut short by incarceration — by the stress of beatings and rapes, and so much more that is the hell of prison life — then that’s 15,000 people who were convicted of the crime of minding their own business, then have been de facto executed by the US criminal justice system.

The 194 prisoners per 100,000 in Iran is probably too high a rate in itself. But it’s a sad day in the Land of the Free when a comparison with the legal system of a repressive Islamic Republic indicates that we have 1.5 million more prisoners for consensual activities than they do.

The argument is not that Iran is ‘freer’ than America. The argument is that, here at home, we got some fixin’ to do. Ron Paul 2008.

]]> By: Anthony Gregory http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9951 Anthony Gregory Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:48:21 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9951 I don't think Iran's execution rates would account for the disparity. But yes, some other police states slaughter more people than our own. I don’t think Iran’s execution rates would account for the disparity. But yes, some other police states slaughter more people than our own.

]]> By: Anthony Gregory http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9950 Anthony Gregory Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:46:03 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9950 We hardly have unchecked capitalism. The prison industrial complex is corporate socialism. Without the socialist powers of the state, nothing like it is possible. The free market couldn't sustain a drug war, or the war in Iraq. Who would finance it? We hardly have unchecked capitalism. The prison industrial complex is corporate socialism. Without the socialist powers of the state, nothing like it is possible. The free market couldn’t sustain a drug war, or the war in Iraq. Who would finance it?

]]> By: Anthony Gregory http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9949 Anthony Gregory Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:44:26 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9949 Surely, Iran has plenty of evil laws on the books. But are more people in prison, per capita, for non-crimes in Iran or in America? The numbers seem to indicate the answer is America. There are, of course, victimless sex crimes in America too -- notably, prostitution. Surely, Iran has plenty of evil laws on the books. But are more people in prison, per capita, for non-crimes in Iran or in America? The numbers seem to indicate the answer is America.

There are, of course, victimless sex crimes in America too — notably, prostitution.

]]> By: Andrew P http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9884 Andrew P Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:37:11 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9884 Keep in mind, one reason China and Iran have such small prison populations is that they execute so many people. Executions are a hell of a lot more efficient in countries that aren't burdened by "legal process". And fast execution IS a deterrent, keeping crime down. Keep in mind, one reason China and Iran have such small prison populations is that they execute so many people. Executions are a hell of a lot more efficient in countries that aren’t burdened by “legal process”. And fast execution IS a deterrent, keeping crime down.

]]> By: Andrew P http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9883 Andrew P Sun, 30 Sep 2007 13:33:44 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9883 People clammoring to get out of the US and Congress stopping them? It could happen if the economy goes south relative to other places in the world, expecially if we have a draft to boot. People generally migrate for economic opportunity. The dollar is sinking fast as a lot of accumulated debt comes home to roost. It doesn't look like a depression is coming, rather something more like "slow rot". Congress can't stand by and allow its draft pool to escape any more than they can allow a "brain drain" to take place. For decades we have benefitted from a "brain drain" from the FSU and rest of world, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Congress won't allow the reverse to occur. They will pass and enforce draconian laws if it comes to that. People clammoring to get out of the US and Congress stopping them? It could happen if the economy goes south relative to other places in the world, expecially if we have a draft to boot. People generally migrate for economic opportunity. The dollar is sinking fast as a lot of accumulated debt comes home to roost. It doesn’t look like a depression is coming, rather something more like “slow rot”. Congress can’t stand by and allow its draft pool to escape any more than they can allow a “brain drain” to take place. For decades we have benefitted from a “brain drain” from the FSU and rest of world, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Congress won’t allow the reverse to occur. They will pass and enforce draconian laws if it comes to that.

]]> By: Hi http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9814 Hi Sun, 30 Sep 2007 05:46:46 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9814 Indeed, Haha Indeed, Haha

]]> By: Chip http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9791 Chip Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:56:31 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9791 The real expansion of the prison system and population really only dates to the 1970s (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/dec2006/pris-d07.shtml). There are already murmurs of change, which we have to keep pushing for. It will take some politician with guts to prick the conscience of the American public, which is slow to awake. As Churchill said, "The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative." The real expansion of the prison system and population really only dates to the 1970s (http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/dec2006/pris-d07.shtml).

There are already murmurs of change, which we have to keep pushing for. It will take some politician with guts to prick the conscience of the American public, which is slow to awake. As Churchill said, “The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative.”

]]> By: Tim R. http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9786 Tim R. Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:39:58 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9786 Karoly states that in less than 10 years people will be fighting to get out of this country and Congress won't let them. Are you joking?! Or are you crazy? No matter what terrible mistakes this country has made, and continues to make, millions of people from all over the world are fighting to get IN. Ever since the Statue of Liberty was erected, she has stood for freedom, and millions of the worlds poor and oppressed, "the huddled masses" have been welcomed. In East Germany they fought to get out, in the Soviet Union and in all the countries behind the "Iron Curtain they fought to get out. And still today, from Cuba from Mexico, from all over the globe they try to get out. And where do they come? As Neil Diamond once said they come to America! And by the way, if you really think this is a police state, why do you willingly live here? Karoly states that in less than 10 years people will be fighting to get out of this country and Congress won’t let them. Are you joking?! Or are you crazy?

No matter what terrible mistakes this country has made, and continues to make, millions of people from all over the world are fighting to get IN. Ever since the Statue of Liberty was erected, she has stood for freedom, and millions of the worlds poor and oppressed, “the huddled masses” have been welcomed.

In East Germany they fought to get out, in the Soviet Union and in all the countries behind the “Iron Curtain they fought to get out. And still today, from Cuba from Mexico, from all over the globe they try to get out. And where do they come? As Neil Diamond once said they come to America!

And by the way, if you really think this is a police state, why do you willingly live here?

]]> By: Taylor A http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9656 Taylor A Sat, 29 Sep 2007 05:59:38 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9656 Two wrongs don't make a right...hasn't your mother taught you anything??? US is out of tough and quickly falling into a prison state!~!!! Two wrongs don’t make a right…hasn’t your mother taught you anything??? US is out of tough and quickly falling into a prison state!~!!!

]]> By: Michael Karoly http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/comment-page-1/#comment-9636 Michael Karoly Sat, 29 Sep 2007 03:54:00 +0000 http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/09/27/us-prison-central/#comment-9636 No offense, but this caught my eyes: please just tell me since when is exercising your natural rights a "suicide" and who appointed anyone to declare them as such? No offense, but this caught my eyes: please just tell me since when is exercising your natural rights a “suicide” and who appointed anyone to declare them as such?

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