[excon]

Hello:

We have 5% of the world's population; we have 25% of the world's known prison population. We have an incarceration rate in the United States, the world's greatest democracy, that is five times as high as the average incarceration rate of the rest of the world. There are only two possibilities here: either we have the most evil people on earth living in the United States; or we are doing something dramatically wrong in terms of how we approach the issue of criminal justice.. .

Jim Webb is trying to change it.

For a Senator like Webb to spend his time trumpeting the evils of excessive prison rates, racial disparities in sentencing, the unjust effects of the Drug War, and disgustingly harsh conditions inside prisons is precisely the opposite of what every single political consultant would recommend that he do. There's just no plausible explanation for what Webb's actions other than the fact that he's engaged in the noblest and rarest of conduct: advocating a position and pursuing an outcome because he actually believes in it, and believes that, with reasoned argument, he can convince his fellow citizens to see the validity of his cause. And he is doing this despite the fact that it potentially poses substantial risks to his political self-interest and offers almost no prospect for political reward.

My guess is that Webb, having succeeded in numerous other endeavors outside of politics, is not desperate to cling to his political office, and he has thus calculated that he'd rather have six years in the Senate doing things he thinks are meaningful, than stay there forever on the condition that he cowardly renounce any actual beliefs. It's probably true that most career politicians, possessed of few other talents or interests, are highly unlikely to think that way.

What ought to be demanded of political officials by citizens is precisely the type of leadership Webb is exhibiting here. The shame is, he's the ONLY one.

excon

[tomder55]

Webb is comparing apples and oranges when he compares a monolithic society like Japan to our multicultural ,tolerant of illegal immigration culture.

PARADE Magazine | Why We Must Fix Our Prisons

I will give him kudos for concern about the conditions in prison. They should not need to fear fellow prisoners .

[21boat]

[QUOTE=;]We have 5% of the world's population; we have 25% of the world's known prison population. We have an incarceration rate in the United States, the world's greatest democracy, that is five times as high as the average incarceration rate of the rest of the world. There are only two possibilities here: either we have the most evil people on earth living in the United States; or we are doing something dramatically wrong in terms of how we approach the issue of criminal justice. . [QUOTE]

Interesting how that directly reflects my previous post on a another subject reflecting things about there will be 1/3 of a culture in prison.

To help understand the full scope of the problem as to Why its 25%...

Now we should address the facts as to why there are so many people in prison and who is going to prison of one type of people as opposed to others. Especially by population.

Getting this out would shed more light on the subject and it needs to be recognized to target the problem areas as related to its constant dramatic increases to a point that the U.S. won't be able to afford the prison population in time.

For example:
MOST DANGEROUS Cites in the U.S.
1. Detroit, Mich.
2. St. Louis, Mo.
3. Flint, Mich.
4. Oakland, Calif.
5. Camden, N.J.
6. Birmingham, Ala.
7. North Charleston, S.C.
8. Memphis, Tenn.
9. Richmond, Calif.
10. Cleveland, Ohio

MOST SAFEST CITIES in the U.S.
1. Mission Viejo, Calif.
2. Clarkstown, N.Y.
3. Brick, N.J.
4. Amherst, N.Y.
5. Sugar Land, Texas
6. Colonie, N.Y.
7. Thousand Oaks, Calif.
8. Newton, Mass.
9. Toms River, N.J.
10. Lake Forest, Calif.

There are only two possibilities here: either we have the most evil people on earth living in the United States; or we are doing something dramatically wrong in terms of how we approach the issue of criminal justice. . . .

Could there be a third here and we aren't saying as a people we are DONE with this period. No more (don't offended someone) to be "Politically Correct" The GOV and published statistics shows where the most problem is in Crime. There's some people that are going to feel picked on and insulted. It has to be done to address the ratios and issue of the people going to Prison, and to many times the same person.

Safest and Most Dangerous U.S. Cities, 2007 — Infoplease.com

I hope Webb or someone else gets into the problem here.

[excon]

Hello again, 21:

If you're saying racism plays a part in the burgeoning prison system, I don't disagree.

The elephant in the room in this discussion on the criminal justice system is the sharp increase in drug incarceration over the past three decades. In 1980, we had 41,000 drug offenders in prison; today we have more than 500,000, an increase of 1,200%. A significant percentage of those incarcerated are for possession or nonviolent offenses stemming from drug addiction and those sorts of related behavioral issues.. .

There are stunning statistics with respect to drugs that we all must come to terms with. African-Americans are about 12% of our population. Their drug use rate in terms of frequent drug use rate is about the same as all other elements of our society, about 14%. But they end up being 37% of those arrested on drug charges, 59% of those convicted, and 74% of those sentenced to prison.. .

excon

[excon]

Could there be a third here and we aren't saying as a people we are DONE with this period. No more (don't offended someone) to be "Politically Correct" The GOV and published statistics shows where the most problem is in Crime. Theres some people that are going to feel picked on and insulted. It has to be done to address the ratios and issue of the people going to Prison,

Hello again, boat:

If it HAS to be done, then DO IT!

So that our discussion might be perfectly clear, why don't you lay out your third reason. Nobody here is politically correct, and you won't be thrown off if you tell us the truth. Come on, you don't sound like somebody who is afraid of picking on some people.

Tell us what you REALLY think...

excon