"While the United States constitutes 5% of the world's population, this “land of the free” holds 25% of the world's prisoners – a third to a half are there for drug offenses . With all the talk of Guantanamo and extraordinary rendition, many overlook that we have a Gulag Prison System here at home, fueled by our drug laws."

Back in the eighties (I think it was), management and labor in the California prison system conspired together to grow the system. The prison guards union threw their monetary support to politicians. The administrators had a couple high profile "early releases". They complained bitterly about inadequate capacity as they let a couple of violent criminals out.

My first thought was, what about the non-violent drug offenders? Let them all out, and you'll have plenty of room for rapists and murderers. I think that enough of the populace saw through the ploy, because they only did a couple of those releases.

A few years ago, CA voters passed Proposition 36, which calls for treatment rather than incarceration for drug offenders. What major special interest lobby was against Prop 36? The prison guards' union.

Every prison bond gets my no vote. Every school bond gets my yes vote.


- mark 3-27-2006 7:22 pm [add a comment]

So you're saying the prison guards are the labor movement's sole remaining success story?

Also, the race angle should not be overlooked. It's "drugs" but also being poor and black that puts so many Americans in the hoosegow.
- tom moody 3-27-2006 8:18 pm [add a comment]

"When asked to comment on the underground marijuana economy of Humboldt County, Dr. Hackett of Humboldt State University stated, 'Humboldt County likely generates 200-500 million dollars through marijuana production every year.' "

But the farmers are white, so the Imperial Guard only makes symbolic forays.

- mark 3-27-2006 9:58 pm [add a comment]