[Monkei]

Originally Posted by gomoho

Except that in most cases private business has proved they can run an operation more efficiently for less money than any government entity. And it's all about controlling the $$$s spent when it comes to tax $$$s.

It all depends on whether the privatization is regulated or not. Private prisons can make 40,000 a year profit of each inmate... It's a big business for these companies to lock up and keep people locked up. So who is paying this 40,000? You and me an the taxpayers. I don't think a company should profit off the back of prisoners. Much like I don't think a middle man should profit off of sick people.

There are a bunch of examples where unregulated privatization has done much more harm than good.

[Monkei]

Originally Posted by billethkid

the new rule is a signal to many that it is now ok for a large segment of people to use drugs without legal consequence.

And that solves what problem??

Another populism pill for prospective voters.

The watering down of America continues.

btk

I don't see any watering down. The AG basically said that judges should be able use their own common sense in some cases and not be bound by mandatory sentencing. We are not talking about murder suspects walking free here but we are talking about a mandatory sentence for third strike criminals who don't deserve 25 years in prison for a third strike which could be a very minor infraction.

We cannot just keep locking drug users up with no hope of solving the real problem which is their drug habit.

Sure we can pound our chests and say things like all criminals should be locked up but it's not the answer. If it were truly the answer why have sentences at all and simply lock up all convicts for life?

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by Monkei

I don't see any watering down. The AG basically said that judges should be able use their own common sense in some cases and not be bound by mandatory sentencing. We are not talking about murder suspects walking free here but we are talking about a mandatory sentence for third strike criminals who don't deserve 25 years in prison for a third strike which could be a very minor infraction.

We cannot just keep locking drug users up with no hope of solving the real problem which is their drug habit.

Sure we can pound our chests and say things like all criminals should be locked up but it's not the answer. If it were truly the answer why have sentences at all and simply lock up all convicts for life?

Exactly!!!!. We already have millions of Americans using alcohol to the extreme and unless they drive or do some other stupid thing, its considered no big deal to stagger out of a bar. So why such stiff penalties for a lesser drug, that being Pot. It just does not have the horrible negative effects on the body that Alcohol abuse does.

[jblum315]

You really think there are no drugs IN prisons?

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by jblum315

You really think there are no drugs IN prisons?

I know. I can't figure that out. That makes me so mad I could bite.

I am pretty sure that Marijuana is about the same as drinking alcohol.

I think that perhaps it needs to be classified like alcohol.

But the rest are addictive and scary and now presciption drug addiction and sales of prescription drugs which I don't think is being dealt with as strongly as it should be or COULD be. OR the heavy drugs pouring into this country...which is probably one of the biggest problems we have today. THAT causes people to do anything to keep their need satisfied. ANYTHING. It is making ME rethink having a gun.

Yes. I said that.

What is happening to me and to this country? I don't like it.

I for once agree with Mayor Bloomberg on the stop and frisk procedure. If it reduces crime, do it. I don't have a say...I live in Florida and I am from Ohio, but I am watching that issue.

I guess that Edward Snowdon was upholding our right to know what is happening, but he seems like such a trouble maker too. Some things are hard to figure out.

[BarryRX]

As a pharmacist, I always found that the number of people our age hooked on hydrocodone, oxycodone, dilaudid, etc. was a far more serious problem than marijuana. Someone please correct me if my numbers are out of whack, because I am going from memory. Our prisons are very overcrowded and we imprison a larger percentage of our population than Russia or China. Over half of the people in our prisons are in there for non-violent drug offenses. They didn't mug anyone or break into anyone's house. It would be cheaper and much more beneficial to us as a country to fund treatment programs for these folks than to warehouse them with violent criminals and destroy their futures.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I know. I can't figure that out. That makes me so mad I could bite.

I am pretty sure that Marijuana is about the same as drinking alcohol.

I think that perhaps it needs to be classified like alcohol.

But the rest are addictive and scary and now presciption drug addiction and sales of prescription drugs which I don't think is being dealt with as strongly as it should be or COULD be. OR the heavy drugs pouring into this country...which is probably one of the biggest problems we have today. THAT causes people to do anything to keep their need satisfied. ANYTHING. It is making ME rethink having a gun.

Yes. I said that.

What is happening to me and to this country? I don't like it.

I for once agree with Mayor Bloomberg on the stop and frisk procedure. If it reduces crime, do it. I don't have a say...I live in Florida and I am from Ohio, but I am watching that issue.

A Big yes to all of the above. Don't penalize pot smokers any more than bourbon drinkers. And if stop and frisk saves one life per year then do it and pay no attention to anyone that feels it is not fair. Stop calling police instinct and knowledge profiling or stereo typing. I feel it is bad to need a gun, but we do have that need in this country today.

[Ohiogirl]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

A Big yes to all of the above. Don't penalize pot smokers any more than bourbon drinkers. And if stop and frisk saves one life per year then do it and pay no attention to anyone that feels it is not fair. Stop calling police instinct and knowledge profiling or stereo typing. I feel it is bad to need a gun, but we do have that need in this country today.

Would any of us feel this way if we were one of the groups "profiled?" I don't think so.

[Golfingnut]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl

Would any of us feel this way if we were one of the groups "profiled?" I don't think so.

Probably not, but I would like to see not who, but what is the determining factor or factors for stop and frisk. If it due to gang style clothing, signing or other things known to police as indicators, then stop and frisk them. Personal inconvenience is sometimes a result of individual stupidity.

[manaboutown]

It seems to me he is cutting a break for his partners in crime. Good old
Eric was involved in an ARMED campus takeover at Columbia back in the day. He even bragged about it. AG Eric Holder Involved in Armed Takeover at Columbia University as Student | Independent Journal Review

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl

Would any of us feel this way if we were one of the groups "profiled?" I don't think so.

I think cops become color blind if they are doing their job. Many law enforcement officers are minority too. If you are standing somewhere looking suspicious, dawdling, have no reason to be there, I don't know...what people do who are criminals or look suspicious? then find out what is up. If you shouldn't be there and are up to something then you are out. The argument is that it damages people of one race. What damages them is NOT that. We are throwing the baby out with the bath water.

If I were in an area of high crime and prostitution and I was young and good looking and standing on a street corner alone at three in the morning dressed snappily...well...some police officer might be suspicious of me.

Your mothers told you all this stuff. Don't go where there is trouble and you will likely stay out of it. Don't dress like you are trouble and you will avoid trouble. Now you can't say stuff like that or someone will nail you for prejudging, not being fair.

Common sense is dying fast.

[Monkei]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I think cops become color blind if they are doing their job. Many law enforcement officers are minority too. If you are standing somewhere looking suspicious, dawdling, have no reason to be there, I don't know...what people do who are criminals or look suspicious? then find out what is up. If you shouldn't be there and are up to something then you are out. The argument is that it damages people of one race. What damages them is NOT that. We are throwing the baby out with the bath water.

If I were in an area of high crime and prostitution and I was young and good looking and standing on a street corner alone at three in the morning dressed snappily...well...some police officer might be suspicious of me.

Your mothers told you all this stuff. Don't go where there is trouble and you will likely stay out of it. Don't dress like you are trouble and you will avoid trouble. Now you can't say stuff like that or someone will nail you for prejudging, not being fair.

Common sense is dying fast.

Profiling is wrong. It should not be done and especially in a random situation
. I can remember back in the early 70s when I was a high school student with very long hair. I was stopped a few times by the local police for no reason and was not detained or ticketed any of the times and was never told why hey chose to stop me but it was very apparent it was the hair and a lazy cop thinking hair equals drugs. To read the statistics of the stop and frisk in NYC how can anyone deny profiling which in itself is against the law. I didn't like when it happened to me and I don't like that it happens to others. Profiling is wrong.

[Monkei]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

It seems to me he is cutting a break for his partners in crime. Good old
Eric was involved in an ARMED campus takeover at Columbia back in the day. He even bragged about it. AG Eric Holder Involved in Armed Takeover at Columbia University as Student | Independent Journal Review

I don't think his speech had anything to do with that.

[billethkid]

Holder must not be a "good" cop because he is most certainly not color blind....quite the opposite!!! Like too many people in the public's eye, or in positions of responsibility or in politics.......he is extremely racially biased.

btk

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Monkei

It all depends on whether the privatization is regulated or not. Private prisons can make 40,000 a year profit of each inmate... It's a big business for these companies to lock up and keep people locked up. So who is paying this 40,000? You and me an the taxpayers. I don't think a company should profit off the back of prisoners. Much like I don't think a middle man should profit off of sick people.

There are a bunch of examples where unregulated privatization has done much more harm than good.

You certainly aren't suggesting if the prison is privatized they then get to decide who goes to prison for how long and who stays??? Last time I checked that was still determined by our justice system.