Forum Post: Can We End this War On Drugs Already?
Posted 11 years ago on Jan. 10, 2013, 3:44 p.m. EST by OTP
(-203)
from Tampa, FL
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
http://www2.tbo.com/news/news/2013/jan/09/7/one-dead-deputy-wounded-after-tampa-shooting-ar-602528/
Undercover op, goes bad, now the kid is dead. He's gone. Because the drugs are illegal.
No one sells or buys more drugs than our government. And no one locks up more people than our government.
When is this insanity going to end?
VERNAL, UT -- It is apparently a "common practice" for police to raid homes of deceased people, without warrants, to confiscate their prescription drugs. This Korean War veteran was pulled away from his wife, literally minutes after her death from colon cancer, by police who were in his home seizing his wife's property. He was holding her hand saying goodbye when the intrusion occurred.
Following the incident, Mahaffey asked Vernal city officials and police administrators why officers would search his home without a warrant. He said he was told the Utah Controlled Substances Act provides authority for the search.
According to the lawsuit, Mahaffey also said city manager Ken Bassett dismissed his concerns, saying he was "overly sensitive" and that police were just trying to protect the public from illegal use of prescription drugs.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865569894/
The amount of cops that I have talked to about legalization is about 50/50 as far as the concept.
Some say, its available all over anyways, lets do it. Refocus. Others think that by keeping it illegal its curbing the habits and violence.
All these sheep Republicans here clamoring for the regulation of drugs, but no regulation of guns.
Putting people in prison/jail for drugs solves nothing. It hasn't and it won't.
I know, right. Put is a freakin cage, for putting a substance in your body.
Getting shitfaced and crazy is fine, but dont do some lines....unreal.
legalization and smart regulation is the only solution to the drug issue.
people have been brainwashed about drugs since they were kids in school.
It's really difficult to discuss legalization with most people.
Canada has an awesome program for heroin users in one place. I read about it a few years back. Don't remember too many specifics. I'll have to google it. It was a facility where people could go to safely use heroin. Found to greatly reduce infections, overdoses and much more.
Part of drug abuse addiction is physical and part is spiritual. Feed the spirit and you have much less overall illnesses. Individuals can be treated for an empty spirit - find what naturally calls to them - music - dance - being outdoors - whatever - and feed the ability to satisfy that calling. This is part of the answer to a sick society.
We need more independence in music and art. The corporate takeover has been brutal in this regard. Real art can speak to the soul.
Some people have blamed music and different forms of media for many things ranging from desensitizing kids to inspiring violence. To that I respond
A comment I just shared with GF :
Life and it's experiences/effects so intriguing. There was a child reported on the local news - who had been abandoned by his birth parents. He was adopted into a new home but had a terrible rage - even set fire to the house one day. For what unknown reason of dedication this adoptive family did not give up - but went looking for some sort of therapy to help their adopted son come to terms with his very apparent rage at being abandoned.
They found that a program that involved the child with art and expressing thoughts/feelings through the arts - let the child unburden the feeling of having been abandoned - that giving that child a means to express himself creatively - was the door to that child being able to accept the love of a new family and was able to allow him to release his rage as he became accessible to communication.
Good story. I admire people who out of love adopt troubled youths. Another problem in this country are kids who age out of child protective services at 18. Many of these children are easily adoptable, but instead are kept in foster homes for years and years because of a perverse funding incentive by HHS to keep them in the system.
There is a young lady in VT who my kids knew, who along with her sister spent their whole childhood in foster-care until at the age of 16-17 she demanded that she be adopted out. She was able to get her story out mostly because with the help of her new adopted mother she ended up becoming Miss Teen USA, and then wrote a book called Lost in The System. She was not lost though. They knew exactly where she was. Hard to believe the system can be so callous, think again.
~Odin~
My god DKA...that's beautiful. This story made me tear up. Imagine what a world we would live in if everyone shared with their fellow human beings...the compassion, patience and deep intuitive love that these parents expressed to their son.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRhq-yO1KN8
Further : To all of the teachers in the world - creativity - support it.
Hey DK. I have a question about this specific comment. I'll PM you.
OK
Wow! This is particularly fitting today. Here in Ontario, Canada...teachers were stopped by a last minute judgement from striking.
The students didn't quite know whether they should go to school or not. Early this morning, my daughter's brilliant teacher called all of his students personally at home to reassure them that he was going to be there. Many students didn't bother to go in. My 10 year old daughter decided that she must go in and show him support. That is the effect and love that creative teachers have on their students.
So, your link "To Sir With Love" is beautiful & appreciated. Now That's synchronicity!
A classic timeless moment of appreciation - for those in this world who reach out with their best effort to uplift those around them.
Feed the spirit - as the spirit - feeds you.
Hey Renneye - glad to touch on a good moment - thanks for sharing.
As we fight the ills of our society/world - I think it necessary to point out individual success as well.
Also - gr8 teachers can be found outside of the formal school system as well as within it.
Indubitably DKA!!! I do believe I am conversing with one of these gr8 teachers at this very moment.^.~
Peace!!
Peace - Love - Health - Prosperity - for ALL.
Hey thanks for the compliment - or - are you having coffee with someone while you are visiting the forum today? {:-])
Hahaha! No...that one was all for you DKA!!...as it is, I have a coffee in hand...and I'd have one with you anytime!
Thx - same here .... and ....
In compliment :
Great video in the link - please watch for real inspiration -
http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/rights-freedoms/the-berger-pipeline-inquiry/my-nation-will-stop-the-pipeline.html
1st shared here by TrevorMnemonic
May it go viral.
[-] 2 points by Renneye (1310) 2 minutes ago
Hahaha! No...that one was all for you DKA!!...as it is, I have a coffee in hand...and I'd have one with you anytime! ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
Wow...that was powerful! "
"Chief Frank T'Seleie gives an impassioned speech against the pipeline. He tells Foothills Pipelines president Bob Blair, "You are the 20th century General Custer. You are coming with your troops to slaughter us and steal land that is rightfully ours." "
I especially liked the instant perspective Chief Frank T'Seleie gives in the last 30 seconds or so, where he points out the arrogance of Bob Blair and his ilk, that they think they can come in and take over the land of a people that have been there for 30,000 years for 20 years of gas, and tops it off with "...are you really that insane?". Priceless!
Mr. Berger's exhaustive efforts and dedication laid the foundation for future 'builds' that affect the environment and indigenous people that still stands today.
A contemporary summary of Mr. Berger's work...
http://www.centreforthenorth.ca/blogs/latestnews/thenortherngatewaypipeline3awhatcanwelearnfromthe1
Thanks DKA!
Yes - a powerful demonstration of sane thinking confronting the insane.
And your attached follow-up showing stinkin thinkin ( insane greed ) - shows that even though the fossil fuel need will only be supplied for a short term - the destruction caused will be long term - that this fact is then taken as - "well gosh golly and G...we need to relocate these people so we can go ahead and destroy the environment that they are now living in healthily and peacefully - whether they are willing to move or not". GREED - INSANE - SOSDD.
And - I - Pray : May it go viral = awareness education = we need to end fossil fuel insanity.
[-] 2 points by Renneye (1310) 0 minutes ago
Wow...that was powerful! "
Chief Frank T'Seleie gives an impassioned speech against the pipeline. He tells Foothills Pipelines president Bob Blair, "You are the 20th century General Custer. You are coming with your troops to slaughter us and steal land that is rightfully ours."
I especially liked the instant perspective Chief Frank T'Seleie gives in the last 30 seconds or so, where he points out the arrogance of Bob Blair and his ilk, that they think they can come in and take over the land of a people that have been there for 30, 000 years, for 20 years of gas, and tops it off with "...are you really that insane?". Priceless!
Mr. Berger's exhaustive efforts and dedication laid the foundation for future 'builds' that affect the environment and indigenous people that still stands today.
A contemporary summary of Mr. Berger's work...
http://www.centreforthenorth.ca/blogs/latestnews/thenortherngatewaypipeline3awhatcanwelearnfromthe1
Thanks DKA! ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
"Feed the spirit and you have much less overall illnesses. "
I agree with this 100%.
Minor drug offenders fill your prisons and you don't even flinch! All our taxes paying for their wars against the new non-rich!
The percentage of Americans in the prison system, prison system, prison system, has doubled since 1985
They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, They're trying to build a prison, For you and me to live in! Another prison system, Another prison system, Another prison system.
All research and successful drug policy shows that treatment should be increased!
And law enforcement decreased! While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences!
All research and successful drug policy shows that treatment should be increased! And law enforcement decreased, While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yndfqN1VKhY
yet the establishment hacks insist - "Marijuana should be illegal! Drugs are bad mmkay!" The private prison lobbyists are loving it right now!
I'm sure you've seen the list, but the top five special interest groups that are fighting against decrim or legalization are police unions, for-profit prison corporations, prison guard unions, alcohol and beer companies, and, of course Big Pharma. Personally, I think that speaks volumes. All the major players are those that profit big-time from its illegality.
I think it's also interesting that our last three Presidents have been guilty of violating these very laws.
that's racketeering in my book.
Here's some solutions to that problem
The End Political Kickbacks Act (H.R. 4434): Prevents for-profit corporations that receive money from the government from making political contributions, and limits the amount that employees of those companies can contribute.
The Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act (H.R. 4431): Implements a 500% excise tax on corporate contributions to political committees, and on corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns.
The Public Company Responsibility Act (H.R. 4435): Prevents companies making political contributions and expenditures from trading their stock on national exchanges.
The Corporate Propaganda Sunshine Act (H.R. 4432): Requires publicly-traded companies to disclose in SEC filings money used for the purpose of influencing public opinion, rather than promoting their products and services.
The Ending Corporate Collusion Act (H.R. 4433): Applies antitrust law to industry political action committees.
The End the Hijacking of Shareholder Funds Act (H.R. 4487): This bill requires the approval of a majority of a public company’s shareholders for any expenditure by that company to influence public opinion on matters not related to the company’s products or services.
The America is for Americans Act (H.R. 4510): Bans all political contributions from foreign companies, or domestic companies with any foreign owners.
The Pick Your Poison Act (H.R. 4511): Requires corporations to choose between using lobbyists to influence the political process, or spending money on campaign propaganda.
You're right, all those resolutions are full of good ideas. It doesn't surprise me that none were passed. Yet.
*Racketeering .... Spot on.
Hey kid. I read a great book years ago called the Real War on Crime. In it they mentioned the Iron Triangle. It is where politicians, bureaucrats, and private business have inter-locking political and financial interests. These private prisons will be unwilling to accept a dip in the price of their stock if we all become better behaved. Instead prison sentences will be lengthened, and/or more things will become illegal. All this while the bankers and their cronies who have caused the most pain and misery to millions of people get off scot-free, and are receiving huge bonuses to boot.
The message is clear, if you get caught with drugs, you're screwed, but if you don't, you will get the chance to run for President, and people will admire you for your candor in admitting past drug use. All this while you serve the interests of the Prison Industrial Complex.
~Odin~
Hey Odin, how's things going?
That sounds like a good book to check out. You say you read it years ago but it sounds pretty contemporary.
I'm good, back in NJ now. That book (which I read about 15 years ago) was a real eye-opener for me. I couldn't believe how screwed up the criminal justice system was/is, especially since it was The Report of The National Criminal Justice Commission. That group was comprised by people both in and out of the criminal justice field. I mean it was not written by some wing-nut on the right or left.
I wrote a letter which appeared in the Rutland Herald when Vermont...Governor Dean, no less... was closing down one of its biggest physchiatric hospitals, while at the same time building a new prison. I remember the last line of my letter, "In any event, we don't need a Gulag Vermont."
I've told this story in part recently before, but here it is again. Then we had the chld welfare system in VT, and a State Senator Sears who ran a home for trouble youths. He was profiting handsomely from the tens of thousands of dollars that they got for each kid in there. After spending her whole childhood bouncing from one foster home to another, not given the chance to be adopted, a beautiful young woman who my kids knew (my wife and I knew her adopted mother) named Charlotte Lopez found herself in Senator Sears home, until she demanded that they adopt her out at 16-17. She was able to tell her story in a book called Lost In The System. That was amazingly after she became Miss Teen USA. She was not lost though. They kept her in that system because of a perverse funding mehtod mostly from HHS. Sadly, it's all about $$$, and that child welfare system in VT, and in a lot of other states is criminal, and how those people can live with themselves is beyond me.
~Odin~
I was about to say "unbelievable" but unfortunately, it's all too believable. Psychiatric hospitals have been closed by the hundreds if not thousands and the for-profit prison industry has boomed. There's probably a direct connection. And the stories I've come across over the last year or so about the antics (too nice a word, really) of various child "protective" services around the country are downright mind-blowing. How in the HELL has society become so dysfunctional?
Things are really screwed up. It is amazing what people will do for money. My ex and I were part of a goup in VT trying to reform that child welfare system...SRS (Social Rehabilitive Services). We lost, needless to say. The only thing that will improve those systems are Civilian Review Panels made up of the community's most out-standing citizens who have no monetary stake in the system.
Do you remember a few years ago where a Family Court judge in Pennsylvania was caught taking kick-backs from a private troubled youth center that he was sending kids to.. I would bet money that if they ever did a probe on these CW systems, they would find a lot of shit going on.
~Odin~
I do remember reading about that judge. If not Pennsylvania, there was another similar case somewhere. I think it was on a site that listed quite a few different cases around the country, not all involving judges of course. I seem to remember quite a few examples of children being removed from their homes for little or no legitimate reason, all to generate profits, it turns out. Sometimes all it took was an alleged "complaint" from an unnamed neighbor.
All you needed for a case to be "substantiated" came from an untrained case-worker. Any outside psychologist who was called in would not be used again if he did not agree with the conclusion of the system, as we found out from one who was never called again, when he refused to agree. Then the case moves on to the secretive...good for the child of course, political Family Court. All through this process, parents are not allowed to talk publicly about their case.
For those kids who were taken from their homes for truly valid reasons, well they would usually languish in foster care for years and years as Charlotte Lopez and her sister did, long after reunification with their birth parents was found to be impossible.
So after bouncing around foster homes, not surprisingly kids often found themselves in a trouble youth home cause that's where the big money pours in, and the people who run them usually have strong political ties, lke State Sen. Sears VT did. If the child got adopted out, the child protective agency would not get any more money then.
I remember sitting in a dimly lit room with other people who were trying to reform the system, and a guy told his story. His teenage daughter was taken away unjustifiably. SRS told his wife that they would not be getting her back. She was so distraught that she went down the cellar and slit her wrists. After that SRS recanted their charges and he got his daughter back. I cried after I heard him tell that story.
We had friends who had three kids. Two were very well adjusted, but one of the girls was not, and got into trouble. The parents were at their wits end, and told the cop that they were going to call child welfare for help. The cop warned them not to, as he knew how callous they were. They didn't listen, and they were very sorry they didn't. That young lady today with the love, and support of family and friends got through that turbulent time in her life, and today is a wonderful mother of three beautiful children.
~Odin~
Amazing stories Odin. And a bit depressing. I did quite a bit of web searching about a month or so ago dealing with child slavery around the world with the intention of posting it here, but got distracted last December and haven't got around to it yet. Although it's not exactly the same subject as we're discussing here, it is related in a way. I had no idea how much danger exists for today's young in this very twisted, sick, perverted world.
It was a real revelation and unbelievable to me when you find out that, some of the "danger" to kids and families is coming from the very institutions that people trust to do the right thing.
It is good to take a time off from the Forum to get a better perspective, and do some research on subjects that interest you, and then come back here with that knowledge. I did a lot of that in AK, but mostly by talking to people, and listening more than talking myself.
Last night, i watched a 1 hour doc accessed through Bill Moyers and Co. on the continued attempts at media consolidation, and the threat to our democracy it poses. It was followed by another 1 hour doc about our dysfunctional Congress.
Although i have not seen them, there are docs on child slavery on the Top Documentary Films web site....which is a great site.... for free viewing. There is also a Frontline doc called The Silence which i saw a couple of years ago, that tells of the child abuse that the Catholic church perpetrated on Alaskan native children for decades. The suffering of indigenous people, mostly in Canada is being discussed on another thread here.
BTW, I was brought up Catholic, but they deserve to be severely criticized for what they did to so many children, for so long throughout the world, and their shameful attempt to cover it up is just that...shameful.
In any event, I am very happy that my little granddaughter in Alaska is being taught in pre-school by two young, very gracious Athabaskan native women. I suspect that their influence will be instrumental to the well rounded young person that she will become.
Or at least the latter should help counteract the effects of having crazy old grandpa visit from the east coast. lol
~Odin~
I just bookmarked the "Top Doc" website. And I had checked out some links, from Renneye, I think, late last year about what was being done to some of the indigenous Canadians in an attempt to essentially destroy their culture, to 'modernize' them I guess you could say. And a lot of it was to steal their land to exploit their resources (hmmm, where have we heard that before?). And the Catholic Church . . . , well, volumes are being written about that 'cult.' And now revelations about the Boy Scouts as well. The list just keeps growing, doesn't it?
That's great about your granddaughter's teachers. What a contrast between them and you, eh? It should make for an intelligent, well-rounded young woman someday from the sounds of it.
A lot of the crimes of colonization continue, but under better disguise. I believe the Catholic church got away with it for as long as they did because they were such a powerful entity that no one wanted to take on.
If my granddaughter develops a love of the outdoors...... knowing that some things in life are worth fighting for......, and maybe a quirky sense of humor ;-), I will take credit for that. The rest is up to her parents, and her Athabaskan teachers.
~Odin~
Well, in my opinion, she has her DNA going for her. And I'd like to think Alaska, being as removed from the 'lower 48' as it is, and having a bit of a rebellious, noncomformist reputation, isn't as much of a shithole as a large part of the rest of the country seems to be.
Thanks. While Alaska is not perfect, it does have a lure that I can understand after more than 10 visits out there. Not many visitors have seen it the way that I have. Most people take a cruise, and buy a bunch of Chinese souvenirs in SE Alaska towns where people avoid coming into town when the tourists are in port. Although the Inside passage is beautiful, having taken the ferry up from Bellingham, WA once. Me...I much prefer hiking, or driving down the Iditarod Trail in an old Chevy, And meeting 'real' people.
~Odin~
Catholicism has the same reputation here in Australia, Odin.
It still confuses me greatly why people place their faith in men in purple gowns who have a history of child abuse and paedophilia.
My father described himself as a "recovering Catholic", and left it at that.
Yes I knew that Catholicism carried out many crimes in not only Australia, but in the Pacifice Islands as well. I think, it would be safe to say that it was world-wide.
Although admittedly, I was still full of myself, it was in Australia as a young man that I realized that the white man has a lot to learn from the indigenous people. And it has been in the last few years with many long conversations that i have had with my one daughter who is now in grad school for anthropology that this has been reaffirmed.
I guess, I fall into the same category as your Dad.
~Odin~
Ya, dont smoke pot or do coke, you may be the next president.
What a frickin scam. Person goes out partying and can be effectively mauled in teh workforce for the rest of their lives. nothing happened.. no one got hurt....but here you go sir, here is your felony.
It's definitely a crock. Like pre-employment drug screens. You smoke a joint three weeks ago and get disqualified for the job, but you can shoot heroin right before the interview and get hired. WTF?
They love it. Sell more guns, sell more drugs, ship em both all over the country, all over the globe, and then tell people they shouldnt shoot people or do drugs.
Bomb sovereign nations- ok. Do drugs- get in a fuckin cage.
Claiming we have a gun problem while they ship em all over the fuckin globe.
He's also dead because he reputedly tried to rip off the undercover cop and fought over the gun and refused to drop it when other deputies told him to. You are right though, the war on drugs is pretty much over, the drugs won.
55 years for gun and pot
http://www.change.org/petitions/president-obama-commutation-for-weldon-angelos-55-years-for-marijuana?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=url_share&utm_campaign=url_share_before_sign
Ok. Let's get this over with:
Moving on.................... He's not a kid. He's 31.
Two backup sheriff's deputies were nearby. They saw the struggle and told the man to drop the gun. When the man didn't comply, they fatally shot him, the sheriff's office said.
"They saw the deputy in a fight for his life and they shot the suspect," Lusczynski said.
Yeah........................my heart is not bleeding.
Legalization and regulation.
Decriminalization still gives gangs a black market to thrive on. As well as decriminalization usually just means small carries but growers still get busted. Like in states busting medicinal grow ops.
Heroin being illegal has nothing to do with the fact that I don't use heroin.
You are going to have a black market if you legalize it. That's right, decriminalization means that people with smaller amounts won't go to jail
It does mean that if your dealing................you're done. No legalization. You just flip your gang bangers.
Putting people in jail for drugs on any level is a waste of tax dollars.
Putting people in jail is not a way to solve the drug problem. That's been proven throughout history. You arrest the guy dealing, he'll just be replaced. Then they have to up crackdowns to stop the replacement. It's a road to failure.
You legalize and regulate drugs, you take the profit source away from gangs.
We must then provide a solution to poverty and provide opportunity to further curb the gang problem.
Where did the idea that laws be made telling me what to do? It is my right to pursue happiness and define Liberty HOWEVER I so choose! This is necessary for the country to exist. That is that. If from this track we sway and how far away presents to what extent it shall be made to change. Now use what is there like has been done with what you would have be or just make up new stuff and assume what positions and ideals you see fit. We can do this to make right especially considering what has been done for other purpose. Do it
No. No it is not.
http://www.michigansthumb.com/articles/2013/01/09/news/local_news/doc50ed64325c69b527594319.txt
Oh, but it is the way to solve the problem.
You legalize it and you take the profit........................you is a dealer.
legalizing alcohol ended the bootleggers.
proper regulation has shown to decrease DUI accidents as well.
people like drugs. it's a fact shown throughout history. What's the underlying cause to that? I don't know. Most people say "it's fun"
Not really. Actually, getting alcohol was not a problem. The prohibition movement was all about out of sight and out of mind. But, okay.
i never said it was difficult to get alcohol. I just said prohibition didn't solve anything, in other words.
Putting people in prison/jail for drugs solves nothing and it won't. That's a proven record if you look at history.
http://www.wfmz.com/news/Inmates-blame-booze-for-crimes-sue-beer-companies/-/121458/18035496/-/uxie14/-/index.html
Decriminalization and the harm reduction methods nation wide. My stance remains unchanged.
I agree alcohol needs more regulation. For one they shouldn't be allowed to advertise on tv or sponsor events that children watch and aspire to be apart of, like football, and they should include the dangers of alcohol on the packaging. When I say alcohol I mean beer companies and hard liquor and wine, all forms of alcohol meant for consumption.
Decriminalization is still a form of prohibition.
I support decriminalization of drugs, but I favor legalization and smart regulation.
Putting dealers in prison doesn't stop the drug flow. They just get replaced and now you have people in jail/prison wasting tax dollars.
Friday night for many is the "get fucked up night"
Why are there differences in cultures? What we need is a culture revival!
Feed the spirit - and the "NEED" for drugs ( escape ) drops. Such a condition you will find in healthy societies.
Yeah..............Trev?
How about those smart banking regulations?
I want the dealers in prison. I want them there real good and for a long time. Decriminalization and nation wide harm reduction.
I think it is horrendously stupid for them to attempt to sue.
what banking regulations? They don't have any smart ones. They repealed the few good ones they had left over the past 20 years. Hence bank contributions to politicians increasing. We're getting dicked over because they refuse to regulate and reform. We have a Wall Street government.
These 2 issues are not comparable either.
What is wrong with someone distributing marijuana to friends and people of age? Why should someone go to prison for that. It solves nothing and rips families apart, and ruins lives. It's stupid. And that's for any drug.
Prison and jail for drugs solves NOTHING. It's been proven throughout history. Private for profit prisons love it though.
what banking regulations? They don't have any smart ones.
Yep, that's what I'm talking about. You want the same group of people that made such smart regulations to make smart regulations now.............. because you get high?
Decriminalization for smaller amounts and the harm reduction method has worked wonderfully well in countries where it has been implemented. Fully.
Is that what we call those that we distribute drugs to now? Friends? I got news for you, dealers have no friends. Love all, trust none.
I want dealers in prison.
You want "the same group of people" in charge of putting other people in PRISON for drugs?
Your argument has now become invalid.
Putting people in prison for drugs solves nothing.
You wish. Get ALEC and CCA and GEO out of legislation. Stop the faux privatization of prisons. Decriminalize and place the harm reduction method nation wide. It has proven to be successful in nation-states that have utilized it.
Decrininalizing it wont remove the fact that its quick money for people.
Hard enough to tell whose who in a fight when the officers are in uniform. Put one in plain clothes and all you are going off of is "Im a cop".
The story has already changed 4 times, we will see what the apartments sec tape shows.
The government shouldnt be trying to regulate things it has no control of. And in the area of drugs, they have 0 control.
It does mean that people with small amounts will not go to jail. In many areas we are already seeing that.
The officer has the gun.
The gun is now in a struggle.
31 year old drug dealer refused to drop gun.
31 year old drug dealer sure did drop that gun.
I'm going to need to see more to see if I cry. I doubt it.
Right, in Rochester up to an oz of pot is legal. Go look at North Goodman or Ave D or most of Clifford ave. Hasnt done a thing. Much more open air drug market than in Tampa. And even a crumb of pot here is a misdemeanor.
The amount of violence and destruction these laws cause is unreal. Like prohibition 2.0 But the state makes a shit ton off of prosecution, and the Feds are too busy selling drugs themselves to have an opinion.
We have that same problem here.
Harm reduction method nationwide and deciminalization. My stance remains the same.
Honestly anything is better at this point, I would be willing to back that measure as well.
I agree with your statement that you have to earn your way to prison. I am a level 5 (about to be a level 6) for sentencing purposes.
Save it.
How many people are going to die because of this wreckless and hypocritical policy?
When you are surrounded by drugs 24/7, would having it legal make one more prone or less to trying it?
Would the deaths from more possible deaths outweigh the amount of deaths that happen due to bad deals, botched drops, etc?
Im not sure on any of this, but the world's leader in prisons needs some radical changes.
You could start by fighting against privatized prisons.
Privatized is even worse than public ones, and regardless of who owns them, if the laws dont change, and the police state mode of the government, they are going to continue to swell.
regardless of who owns them, if the laws dont change,
No. It does matter who owns them. They are writing the sentencing laws. ALEC.
Yes, I would rather have them as public. But public is an absolute disaster as well. A total disaster. The worst example of policing on the planet.
So we would go from worst to still worst. Just more "worst" than before.
Radical change. Radical leaders. Radical people.
Public is a disaster when one refused to fund it and works hard on destroying it. It works fine when it is staffed by trained COs that understand what liability means. It works fine when there is medical and mental health care provided. Defunding it and using skeleton crews puts everyone at risk.
ALEC writes the legislation. Get the corporations out of the public sphere. At no time should the criminal justice system be for (faux) profit.
Truth
The amount of money they are dumping into the prison systems is unreal. Its frighteningly high. Corrections Corporation of America made 1.7 BILLION last year. Thats fuckin insane.
Probably all the money that went towards treating patients for mental and health disorders.
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2012/12/11907/running-scared-alec-anticipating-irs-audit
This ^ is an interesting article with some good stats on it.
CCA spend money on mentally ill folk?
No.
http://www.privateci.org/lawsuits.html Open the first one, this is a little dated (2008) and look at settlements.
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/lawsuit-alleges-cca-uses-violent-gang
http://whyihatecca.blogspot.com/2010/12/lawsuits-galore.html
http://tucsoncitizen.com/cell-out-arizona/
http://www.texasprisonbidness.org/archive/201301
No I was saying that there is an incredible amount of money in that complex, but almost none of it goes towards prevention, help or education.
Its just treating the people like products. Similar to what the colleges have turned into. Whether they are better when they come out is irrelevant to these freaks.
It's all about the cash.
It should be a crime that some corporation profits off of me losing my freedom. I can agree with that for sure.
And so a steady growth for forprofitprisons is maintained/supported.
Yes, AND they put public safety at risk AND the tax payers pay for lawsuits.
Yeah, and if people aren't careful the same people are going to prison you just have a dealer in a suit with a license. You think any of these clowns that are getting popped for drugs are going to become any more legit? Hell, no.
Prison is not set up to help an individual reform - to become productive and successful once put back on the streets. Nope prison is a revolving door - set-up to welcome back past tenants.
There are two schools of thought. A) rehabilitation B) no rehabilitation.
The only place that you will find gender equality is in the prison system. Now, I for one am livid that a bunch of people can talk about how they have some programs available..............but that is the best they can do. I am also furious with corporations that benefit from prison slavery.
It is a shallow cop-out - there is absolutely no reason that extended learning/education and training in any field could not be offered. It is the easy lie to maintain the system as it is.
You can get that depending on your state. This guy http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2012/09/16/news.convicted-killer-getting-out.sto
was released. He had a bachelors degree and two vocational degrees. He was moved something like three times due to the public. He got into a vehicle with a woman, no harm was done, but they stated that the possibility was right there. Which begs the question............WTF were you thinking releasing him if you were worried that he would get into a car with a lone woman driving? AND did you pick him back up because you have no place that he can go? AND what is the point of doing the time for the crime if you have no intention of accepting someone back into your society?
Exactly - it is not enough to offer education - there must be an understanding of who the individual is. If you can not understand the malfunction - how can you place the individual back onto the street?
yep.
Although, some of these cats are just going to be released and keep on sucking- no matter what and you can only pobrecito for so long.
There has to be consideration taken for repeat offenders - obviously there is something wrong or they would not have repeated - repeat offenders are quite well known and are even given ratings as to their likelihood of repeating or getting progressively worse.
These individuals ( repeats ) obviously need further individual study. Is it an organic problem? Is something fucked up with how their brain is wired?
Anyway repeats should not be shown the street again - until their personal situation is understood and addressed.
Yep trial and error with much study/exploration involved. But to do else is? Insane? Criminal?
[-] 2 points by DKAtoday (24113) from Coon Rapids, MN 1 hour ago Life and it's experiences/effects so intriguing. There was a child reported on the local news - who had been abandoned by his birth parents. He was adopted into a new home but had a terrible rage - even set fire to the house one day. For what unknown reason of dedication this adoptive family did not give up - but went looking for some sort of therapy to help their adopted son come to terms with his very apparent rage at being abandoned.
They found that a program that involved the child with art and expressing thoughts/feelings through the arts - let the child unburden the feeling of having been abandoned - that giving that child a means to express himself creatively - was the door to that child being able to accept the love of a new family and was able to allow him to release his rage as he became accessible to communication.
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I think that's very interesting.
Hey - I have always felt that there was truth in the saying - music has the power to sooth the savage breast ( or beast - depending on who was stating the thought ). But also look at the miracles that music alone has produced - patients with brain damage re-wiring their brains speech paths by using a musical bridge.
Arts - Creativity - so much untapped potential.
Yep.
I have, in one of these boxes, a small study that focused on success found with female offenders. It was done in Illinois. Female offenders have different needs and face different issues when they are released. They have to start working from the inside way before their release because they are going to have a limited time to get their kids back. If you have no skills or are limited in where you can work then being able to get a house or apartment with one room for each child is going to be tough. The support system that they have developed whilst in prison is gone. They cannot contact anyone that they knew inside even if they have been released. There is always that one jack off that you meet at the crappy job that finds out that you're on parole and wants to frame your ass so that you can be picked up. It's tough. I think it's a pretty good start though.
By the same token, I remember coming across an interview that had been done with a female inmate and she said that many times it is the third trip back to prison before it is taken seriously. It's somewhere here. So, I will have to find it.
Life and it's experiences/effects so intriguing. There was a child reported on the local news - who had been abandoned by his birth parents. He was adopted into a new home but had a terrible rage - even set fire to the house one day. For what unknown reason of dedication this adoptive family did not give up - but went looking for some sort of therapy to help their adopted son come to terms with his very apparent rage at being abandoned.
They found that a program that involved the child with art and expressing thoughts/feelings through the arts - let the child unburden the feeling of having been abandoned - that giving that child a means to express himself creatively - was the door to that child being able to accept the love of a new family and was able to allow him to release his rage as he became accessible to communication.
Would it be overboard to set up prisons as classrooms?
No - there should be a world of possibility offered for study and training. Prisoners have time on their hands and would benefit by having positive opportunities of learning available to them. For many it might be their 1st exposure to a consistent/stable routine. Where else can you look at so many people and learn what makes them tick? What motivates them? What feeds their spirit? How that spirit can be fed to be productive and welcome in society.
I'm most likely about to do 14 months very soon and I am hoping I'll be able to continue my college education there, as well as my spirit. My hopes aren't too high though.
One day at a time - there is truth in that saying. Plan for the worst and hope for the best is another good strategy. I f you plan for the very worst - you are what? - ready to shoulder the worst - if the worst does not happen? - You are fortunate and able to enjoy the reprieve. So - plan for the worst that you can imagine and think about how you would be best off in dealing with such. This way you are not caught flat footed frozen in the light like a startled deer. Take up meditation for the times when you have to yourself - picture the things that make you happy or feel at peace - this practice will help restore you. Above all know - that - no matter what happens - that - unless you die ( in which case all your worries are over ) - you will be alive to greet each new day. If you can accept the fact that you may die - you can also accept the fact that you may not.
Lol.. those words bring joy. I've done time before. Your suggestions sync with my previous experiences. Thanks.
Glad to help - I have been through a few tough times myself. There is always gonna be a tomorrow - and that tomorrow can be awesome - for absolutely no reason at all.