Hi Marcy
You made some poignant comments, which I presume were made in response
to an op-ed that Mr. Whitehead had written. If my presumption is
correct, did you forget to include the text of or the link to Mr.
Whitehead's op-ed?
Anyhow, to ask whether the bulging prison population is caused by
private prison operators who build new prisons with the intention of
filling them ("build them, and they'll come") or by state bureaucrats
who operate state-run prisons and want to hold on to their jobs and
power, seems to put us in a "chicken or egg" situation. But since both
operators of prisons would like to serve more "customers" or "clients,"
I think we have more of a "breaking eggs to make omelets" situation. The
"eggs" being We the People who are broken to make "omelets" and then
"served" in all those prisons.
And the "breakers" of those eggs are none other than the legislators at
every level of government who enact an increasing number of laws that
criminalize We the People and subject them to prison terms. Indeed, you
said this much yourself: "Ultimately, laws that increase or decrease a
prison population are made by you and me, not by private prisons." (I
take it that Mr. Whitehead is a legislator, no? And when "me" make those
laws, no doubt they're made when politicians, eager for votes, respond
to cries of "There gotta be a law!" or "Do something about it!)
(A recent book talked about this situation. Its title says it all: One
Nation Under Arrest: How Crazy Laws, Rogue Prosecutors, and Activist
Judges Threaten Our Liberty, Edited by Paul Rosenzweig and Brian W.
Walsh; The Heritage Foundation, $14.95, 268 pages. To see a review of
the book, go to:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/17/too-many-laws-to-keep-st\\
raight/)
Still, while there is certainly a need for prisons to house violent
felons, if only to punish them and remove them from our paths, however
temporarily, I'm afraid prisons will continue to bulge, and
"beneficiaries" of the "prison-industrial complex" will continue to be
rewarded. That is, unless legislators stop enacting new laws that
criminalize We the People and repeal many current laws, especially those
that deal with the War on Drugs and other "victimless crimes." (An
oxymoron to be sure; see especially Lysander Spooner's, "Vices are not
crimes." But since most "crimes" are "victimless" in that the "State" is
usually the "plaintiff" in many such court proceedings, these should be
more properly labeled, "regulatory crimes.")
Frankly, I'm not sanguine this will be done, certainly not in my
lifetime. And would it surprise you if Obama were to mandate, say,
August, as "National Turn Yourself In Month"? Imagine seeing him on
national TV, as he reads from a streamlined Teleprompter:
"Ignorance of the law is never an acceptable defense for breaking a law.
With the many laws now on the books, I know everyone is guilty of
breaking at least one, and most likely, several laws And everyone might
not even know they've broken a law. I would like to see everyone given a
chance to owe up to breaking any and every law. I would also like to see
everyone given the chance to come clean, and pay for their crimes.
"Therefore, I am issuing an Executive Order to give everyone these
chances. To do this, I am making August 'National Turn Yourself In
Month.' During this month everyone will be invited to come to centers
and facilities, newly created by my Justice Department, to report any
crime they think they committed or any law they think they broke.
Carefully trained, civic minded employees will help guide you to admit
to more crimes you may not know you have committed or laws, especially
new ones, you may not know you have broken. And once these employees
have tallied your crimes, they will be authorized to mete out prorated,
discounted fines and, if need be, reduced prison terms.
"Besides offering an opportunity for everyone to come clean and pay for
their crimes, I'm happy to say that my Executive Order will create
hundreds of thousands of new, desperately needed jobs. These are jobs
that will pay decent, living wages. My Executive Order will also
generate billions of dollars in new revenue. This new revenue can be
used to help balance our budget or reduce our debt. Or better, it can be
used to pay for new programs, which I will propose, that will also
create jobs and generate new revenue.
"So whether you took out one person or ten persons, last week or ten
years ago, or whether you haven't paid your taxes for any number of
years, or whether you've jaywalked or littered, August will be the time
for you and everyone to come clean. I like everyone of you to take the
opportunity and visit one of our new centers and facilities so you could
admit to your crimes and accept the appropriate penalties. You'll then
be able wipe the slate clean, start over again, clear your conscience.
Wouldn't that be great? Even better, you will not only help yourselves,
you will also help your country. Isn't that our most important duty?
"Thank you and good evening.
"Allahu Akbar"
So, Marcy, do you think we'll need appointments before we can go to
those centers and facilities to turn ourselves in?
Anyhow, thank you for posting your comments and for reading my comments.
Alton
P.S. At the end of your signature, you posted:
<< Visit our website www. lpsf.org >>
I like this part of your signature. I shall considering using it at the
end of my MLP signature. I hope you won't demand a royalty.
Dear Mr. Whitehead,
Yours is an interesting premise. However, attributing the bulging
prison population to pressure on states from private prison operators,
although tempting, is a stretch. If you would also argue that state-run
prisons are a result of pressure from state bureaucrats intent on
holding on to power and their jobs, I would be more inclined to view
your original premise with less of a jaundiced eye. Ultimately, laws
that increase or decrease a prison population are made by you and me,
not by private prisons.