Photo Credit: pixabay
Right now, no one can actually say how many laws are on the books in the United States and how many regulations, which have the same force of law are in effect.
Some estimate that 40,000 new law are passed each year at the state and federal level. It is estimated that the average person commits 3 felonies a day.
This is what the face of tyranny looks like and the prison population is starting to reflect this today.
22% of people in prison are there for drugs. When you declare a "War on Drugs" it really is the state declaring a "War on People", as it is the people who go to prison.
A total of 77% (including the 22% in for drugs) of people in prison are incarcerated for non-violent offenses against the state.
So out of a million prisoners 3/4 are regarded as non-violent. This number has doubled since 1977. It is not surprising, since no one person can know the law and therefore be expected to obey it.
In fairness, a lot, perhaps most of the non-violent offenders have committed crimes worthy of some punishment. Warehousing people in prisons with the rapists, murderers and other serious felons is not the way to get justice for society and can lead to the needless creation of career criminals.
There are better smarter ways to run a society. Unfortunately, criminals are every politicians "Whipping Boy" and no politicians are ever sanctioned for advocating "Getting Tough on Crime". The human cost to the prisoner and society at large is never considered in these kindergarten level arguments.
Unfortunately, real adults in leadership positions are rare in politics.
it's honestly a sham
I didn't mention the war on drugs but that's definitely part of the problem
but it deserves its own article
this is what happens when an entire industry emerges around maximising imprisonment rates while shaving costs
Please make note that the 13th Amendment specifically allows for involuntary servitude specifically as punishment for a crime. Also make note that throughout history, for racist reasons, the prison was used as a way to continue slavery and as a new kind of plantation. Slaves who were freed were then arrested for vagrancy and other poverty related crimes, sent to prison, and forced to work indefinitely. This is all documented in the history books for those who don't remember.
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yup, they get paid like $1-$5 a day
would have been bad in the 60s
Still pretty average on STEEMIT though hahaha
whistles innocently
Present company excluded
I do feel that in the long run this platform will reward high quality content
it's taking a while to get there, but it is slowly improving
I definitely don't remember because I am in my early 30's but a picture says more than a thousand words. History is a messed up thing. That is why it's important now to look towards the future so we don't say "jeez what the hell were we thinking believing THAT was OK?"
I was at a bank conducting my my business. A women enters the bank and ask to withdrawal 100% of her money and close her account.
Her reason was that Bank of America, finances and profits from the private prison system. It was really fun to listen to the branch manager try to unsuccessfully talk her out of closing her account.
"The Journey Toward True Liberty Begins When One Person Shouts - NO!!!". - Clear Shado
I would Upvote the hell out of that woman!!
I think you said something interesting that is probably the entire root cause to this issue and that's simply "what is the role of a government in deciding appropriate punishment for morally subjective laws?" Like a guy goes to jail for more than 5 years for any quantity of marijuana is stupid and unnecessary. A prostitute sure does not need prison to get her 'back on track.' Drug addicts are hurting themselves and are already in a prison of life circumstance. The system is totally jacked up from the floor to the ceiling and I just think I made that saying up. But you know what I mean. I think there are such better ways to turn bad behaviors into a better society one-by-one and not having sentencing rules is a good start. Takes away context entirely and robs good people who broke the law an opportunity at a second chance.
@trafalgar, youve mention war on drugs. Is ot particularly in philippines or globally? Cause if in here in philippines most of the suspects not getting into imprisonment nor prosecution but directly into their graves. That how our new adminiatration work on the problem. Criminals esp. Drug related cases having themselves killed. I mean criminal vs. Criminal .. And we dont blame the president for that cause we see the improvement of the society. I also want your opinion how you see philippines when it comes to war on drugs.
I'll probably write an article about the philippines one day when I've done more research
the world's a complicated place, I don't think there are easy answers but encouraging the killing of drug dealers is probably not the best way to progress. It's still all relative to the environment, the philippines is going through a difficult development phase
Looking forward to that article @trafalgar 😊.. Anyways i like all the article your writing.
If it's true that hate destroys love then it is also true that love destroys hate.
What if prisoners had to love their way to freedom. Make them care and help and hug and learn woudl def be constructive.
Drug addictz should be patients not criminals.
1 out of every 2 lawyers on earth is american
People relatively well off can afford to hire lawyers to give them advice on what rules not to break. The rest of us are on our own and have to learn trial and error. Depending on who were are, where we live, what we look like, we might get a slap on the wrist or the harsh treatment.
True but ai don't think no that's why rich people don't go to jail. I don't think they get advice on how not to break rules but more of don't do this or that because the punishment isn't harsh which leads them to not risk their lives for a certain reward. For the poor the do not have to He money to always color in the lines. If you are hungry even the Bible says it isn't not stealing if you are starving, it is our nature. We should not punish those who do 'crime' to merely survive.
Well said. Don't forget in Los Angeles the biggest gangsters are the cops and they purposefully inject drugs in the getthos.