Anti-Smoking Court Ruling So Insane It Sounds Like a Comedy Skit

[kola]

I wonder what the percentages are for inmates who have been caged up because of non-violent crimes? Prisons are big cash cows and the good ol' USA is number 1 for locking people up. The same treatment for a guy jailed up for weed and for a serial killer doesn't make sense to me at all Not all humans in prison are evil, psychopaths and child molesters.
I agree with ms0480 sentiments.

 

[pipesmokingtom]

Not all humans in prison are evil, psychopaths and child molesters.

Is true. Our justice system is pretty heinous, considering we're one of the most "advanced" countries in the world.

 

[brian64]

I wonder what the percentages are for inmates who have been caged up because of non-violent crimes?

It's huge...thanks mostly to the so-called "war on drugs".
There's also a healthy percentage of completely innocent people who were wrongfully convicted thanks to our corrupt judicial system.

 

[aldecaker]

"Not all humans in prison are evil, psychopaths and child molesters."
Nope. But if they weren't before, a few years in the stony lonesome has a good chance of turning them into at least two out of those three. Prison is horrible on people, psychologically speaking.

 

[kola]

^^ Another reason to prove the prison correctional facilities are a failure...along with "the war on drugs."
Just imagine if alcohol was still illegal. Would the masses support strict treatment of the non-violent inmates who chose to indulge in some booze?
Back to the OP post. I think implementing a ban on cigs is total bullshit. Designated smoking areas would suffice.

 

[aldecaker]

Well, if they're trying to make it as difficult as possible for people to re-enter society with any chance of making it, they're doing a bang-up job.
The war on drugs poses a lot of interesting and difficult questions for me. Would I rather spend the same amount of money to treat drug addicts rather than incarcerate them? Yes, absolutely. But once they cross a line and burgle my house to support their drug addiction, do I want them punished? Also, yes. The problem with drugs is not so much the drugs, but the attendant property crime and violence that goes hand in glove with it.
It is very similar to certain communities that don't want titty bars. Do they hate titties? No, they just understand that some of the clientele drawn to those establishments can be unsavory and cause problems all out of proportion to just looking at some naked women.

 

[brian64]

The war on drugs poses a lot of interesting and difficult questions for me. Would I rather spend the same amount of money to treat drug addicts rather than incarcerate them? Yes, absolutely. But once they cross a line and burgle my house to support their drug addiction, do I want them punished? Also, yes. The problem with drugs is not so much the drugs, but the attendant property crime and violence that goes hand in glove with it.

IMO the vast majority of violence and robbery associated with illegal drugs is a byproduct of prohibition, not the drugs themselves.
The only reason a hard-core alcoholic does not rob you for booze money is because the booze is so cheap...because it's legal. And you don't have gangsters peddling booze because it's legal.
Decriminalize the illegal drugs and you will eliminate the great majority of crime and violence associated with them. You will also eliminate a great deal of systemic corruption the drug war has created within law enforcement.
Another point is the really dangerous street drugs, like crack for example, are often cited as justification for drug laws. But again, imo, these types of drugs are the equivalent of moonshine whiskey...mostly a byproduct of prohibition.

 

[aldecaker]

For the most part, Brian, I agree with all that. Anyone who can't interpret the lessons of Prohibition is not trying very hard. But once we get rid of the corruption-ridden web of drug enforcement, don't we then get to deal with the corruption-ridden web of drug regulation?

 

[kola]

It's the non violent crimes that should be adressed differently is what I'm saying. No harm, no foul. No victim, no crime.

 

[brian64]

But once we get rid of the corruption-ridden web of drug enforcement, don't we then get to deal with the corruption-ridden web of drug regulation?

Yes indeed...but imo that would still be an improvement over what it is now.
But if it were up to me, I’d send the entire federal government back to the 1700’s and let the States deal with everything.

 

[brian64]

It's the non violent crimes that should be adressed differently is what I'm saying. No harm, no foul.

Right. We already have laws against robbery and violence, regardless of what the motive is.

 

[kola]

Face it, prisons are big corporations and big players in the Military-Industrial-Complex. As always, follow the money trail.

 

[aldecaker]

"It's the non violent crimes that should be addressed differently is what I'm saying. No harm, no foul. No victim, no crime."
I do agree with that, especially the no victim, no crime part. Even in civil law, you have to prove some injury or loss to have a case.
As a blue collar guy who had to work hard for all my possessions, though, there was still absolute murder in my eye when my house was burgled years ago!

 

[brian64]

Face it, prisons are big corporations and big players in the Military-Industrial-Complex. As always, follow the money trail.

Yep...that's why Gary Webb "killed himself" with two shots to the head...tough trick to pull off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW4XO-52ubE

 

[kola]

You're right on the money, Brian.
And while the masses refuse to go down the rabbit hole (and see things for what they really are) nothing will change.
This will be labeled "political." I'm done here.

 

[warren]

Was the first shot what we call a "hesitation shot?" People survive all sorts of "head" shots. I investigated one where the bullet circumscribed nearly half the skull, under the skin, never penetrating the skull. Hardly odd a circumstance. Neither are head shots which go "through and through", little to no expansion, without causing sufficient damage to interrupt brain function.
IBTL!

 

[herrpfeifen]

Don't forget all the super-cheap labor. Prisoners work for pennies an hour and they're not allowed to quit if they don't like their crappy job.

 

[aldecaker]

I thought they could quit, they just didn't get any more money put into their commissary account?

 

[ashdigger]

Cameron Todd Willingham

 

[aldecaker]

No, it's still me, Aldecaker.