The United States has the world's largest prison population and the world's highest incarceration rate. The USA is the only country in the world that makes juveniles (those under 18) liable to the death penalty and life without parole. Of the enormous population of juvenile offenders in the prison system, only 12% are accused of violent crimes.
It's tax day. Time to pay up for all of those prison contractors; for those government contractors who make the Freedom Bombs and the drones and planes to drop them. Time to fork it over for all of those government subsidies to the oil industry and to Wall Street, for all of those tax breaks for the wealthiest. Time to pay for barbed wire and for all of those canisters of pepper spray and tear gas. Time to pay for tasers and handcuffs and security cameras. "How much money do I need to spend before I can feel safe again?"
"Prisons are built with stones of Law, brothels with bricks of religion" -- William Blake
3 comments:
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Currently, Doug, juveniles aren't subject to the death penalty (SCOTUS decision about 10 years ago, I think written by, who else, Kennedy). Doesn't mean it couldn't change back, w/ a SCOTUS change. OBAMA 2012!
And, yet . . . we cut money to education and welfare that might actually improve the ability of these little ones to come out as decent, compassionate and contributive human beings.
This is why I am not a fan of representative republics - stupid is the lowest common denominator and thus has the larger voice, the more money, and the greater pool (or, rather, pile) of people to send to "represent."
Humans have to be trained to the fullness of humanity, and the greater majority has not been and has no place making policy until they have been. They're no different than these children, just powerful enough to keep out of a prison.
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