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Too many laws, too many prisoners
The Economist ^ | Thursday, July 22, 2010 | The Economist

Posted on 07/23/2010 10:30:44 AM PDT by jpl

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To: Cacique

41 posted on 07/23/2010 4:44:42 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Drew68
First thing I would do is to identify who dreamed up, wrote and sponsored that law.

Freedom's just another word for nothing-left-to-lose...

42 posted on 07/23/2010 4:50:17 PM PDT by Publius6961 ("We don't want to hear words; we want action and results.")
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To: hejahale
Every Juror should be given a pamphlet explaining “Jury Nulliufication”.

If they need to be given a pamphlet to be aware of the option, odds are they should not be in a jury in the first place.
If one is not aware of the concept of jury nullification, a pamphlet is inadequate to educate the ignorant, but more importantly, to make the intellectual leap that it is never applicable to the thug on trial who simply happens to be the same color as you...

43 posted on 07/23/2010 5:24:44 PM PDT by Publius6961 ("We don't want to hear words; we want action and results.")
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To: Publius6961

Some lady in MI was jailed for picking up bird feathers at the zoo (off the sidewalk).

Felony possession of Raptor feathers. She was actually convicted.

A bunch of teens went skinny-dipping in a backyard pool in MI - every one of them is now a felony sex offender, and required to register as such, FOR LIFE.

Yeah, I think we got a problem...


44 posted on 07/23/2010 5:44:26 PM PDT by patton (Obama has replaced "Res Publica" with "Quod licet Jovi non licet bovi.")
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To: a fool in paradise

You have hit the nail on the head with the 10 pound hammer!!!
The government only goes after those that are easily defeated; either during the “arrest” or during the court battle. You are either overpowered or financially ruined trying to defend yourself.
Revenue enhancement and conviction records are all that count. Justice is no longer required, or even wanted by the government; just power.


45 posted on 07/23/2010 6:44:19 PM PDT by rustyboots
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To: jpl

I can’t believe what I’ve just read. This is beyond unacceptable!

I thought we’d surely hit the low water mark a few years back, when the U.S. beat out Russia to become #1 in the world in number of prisoners per capita. But after reading this post, I guess the situation has not only worsened, it’s become... I can’t find the words...

Why has there been no public outcry?? Why is this allowed to continue?? What can we do to stop it — for clearly “we the people” MUST stop it!

These victims are American citizens, they are us. This could happen to any one of us, or to members of our families — and if it did, then we’d just become “invisible” to the rest of the American public? We’d just “disappear”? That’s not supposed to happen here!! That’s against every principle we’ve fought for in the history of this country!!

I ask once more — what can we do to stop this? We can’t just pretend that these people don’t exist. They do exist, and we have a responsibility to stand up and defend them against this intolerable injustice. But how? Can someone please tell me how? What can we do — what can I do?

Sorry if I sound too emotional — I feel like I’m about to explode.

rebecca


46 posted on 07/23/2010 8:48:28 PM PDT by melonkali
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To: jpl
I tend to agree. Too many people in the joint and in jail....

I would *immediately* release most of the non-violent prisoners and fill the jails with illegal aliens and gangsters...

We know where they live, where they hang out, who their friends and relatives are, we've got their photos, we've cataloged they're prints, DNA and tattoos.

No excuse to have so many gangsters on the streets while the jails have so many the non-violent inmates.

47 posted on 07/23/2010 9:02:36 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: jpl

I am guessing that the number of prisoners began to increase, then skyrocket, as President Johnsons Great Society began to take hold.

None of us have been safe since that time.


48 posted on 07/23/2010 9:13:17 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle (Overproduction, one of the top five business worries of the Amercan Farmer for the past 50 years)
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To: DustyMoment
“What I want is for Congress to be in session no more than about 3 months every other year to pass a budget and then . . . GO HOME!!! I don't want them in session ~10 months out of every year because all they do is get into mischief. If the president needs them for something, he can call a special session and when, whatever it is is resolved, they can GO HOME!!!!

‘Zat answer your question??”

Actually, yes. Better still, it's an answer I can live with. ;)

49 posted on 07/24/2010 11:15:39 AM PDT by Old Student
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To: jpl
I completely agree with the minor premise: There ARE too many prisons, and too many prisoners. Prison makes 90% of the prisoners worse. It is an inverted, bizzaro world, ruled by the strong and the cruel.

The major premise, however, which is that we are too harsh, is false. We've built all these prisons out of excessive kindness.

The answer, IMO, is to greatly expand capital punishment and the use of physical punishments. Predators, all of them, should be killed as soon as their predilictions are identified. Most drug criminals, tax evaders, burglars, etc should be horsewhipped outside the courtroom and set free.

If we killed the predators and whipped the others, long-term incarceration would be unnecessary, most of the time.

50 posted on 07/24/2010 11:23:41 AM PDT by Jim Noble (If the answer is "Republican", it must be a stupid question.)
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To: dragnet2

Well, you asked and you won’t like the answer. The answer is to quit making everything from jaywalking on up a felony. And since that is not a particularly popular point of view right now, expect a lonely fight.

If you are so inclined, I would suggest organizing. If you want to see a model of a civil rights organization that works, look at the gun rights organizations. In particular ones like Arizona or Virginia Citizen’s Defense League. They’ve hit on models that work.


51 posted on 07/24/2010 5:09:49 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics, and victors study demographics.)
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To: RKBA Democrat
Well, you asked

What was that I asked about?

52 posted on 07/24/2010 5:19:07 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: dragnet2

Ooops. Replied to the wrong post. Sorry. Type in haste, regret at leisure


53 posted on 07/24/2010 7:01:23 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics, and victors study demographics.)
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To: melonkali

Sorry....I posted a reply to you to another poster. Here it is again. in response to your question.

Well, you asked and you won’t like the answer. The answer is to quit making everything from jaywalking on up a felony. And since that is not a particularly popular point of view right now, expect a lonely fight.

If you are so inclined, I would suggest organizing. If you want to see a model of a civil rights organization that works, look at the gun rights organizations. In particular ones like Arizona or Virginia Citizen’s Defense League. They’ve hit on models that work.


54 posted on 07/24/2010 7:02:51 PM PDT by RKBA Democrat (Amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics, and victors study demographics.)
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