Liberals get coveted endorsement from Criminals

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Perhaps you shouldn't be one to talk about knowing 'butkus'. My cousin through marriage, (not blood,) is in Drum and has been there for 9? years

I think that duncan guy works in a prison.

[Antithesis]

Originally Posted by Agamemnon

Yeah, because all they're doing in prison is watching cable tv and playing playstation.

Some of you make it sound like a 4 star hotel in there, sheesh. It ain't. Not even close.

Those things shouldn't really be an option. And voting certainly should not be. Realistically, prison should be a clean, safe place for people to fulfill their punishment for flaunting society's laws.

And what of the free university education given to some of them? You focus on the parts where I'm talking about TV and Playstation, after quoting my entire reply, without talking about any of the rest ... what DO you mean by "decent" food?

You complain that we don't know what we're talking about and I've yet to see you explain exactly how it is. Maybe some enlightenment for us would help.

[Agamemnon]

You've got to straighten your quotes out.

Originally Posted by Antithesis

Those things shouldn't really be an option. And voting certainly should not be. Realistically, prison should be a clean, safe place for people to fulfill their punishment for flaunting society's laws.

I'll say it for the 5th time in this thread; I agree, TV and Playstation should not be an option for prisoners. However, the alternative, properly counselling them and training them in trades and skills (and maybe how to read) is much more expensive than sitting them in front of a tv. They _should_ be trained, and _should not_ be watching tv. But many of us place a premium on low-cost incarceration. It costs less to pay for tv than for multiple rehabilitation programs.

If you're suggesting we pump millions of tax-dollars into prisons to replace tv with actual real, helpful programs (or increase/expand existing ones), I'm 100% with you. However, most people believe that a minimum amount of resources should be invested in prison/ers. Hence, the TV.

And what of the free university education given to some of them? You focus on the parts where I'm talking about TV and Playstation, after quoting my entire reply, without talking about any of the rest ... what DO you mean by "decent" food?

First, I'm not sure what the problem w/ 'free university education' for these guys is. You want to make them pay for it? How, exactly, are they supposed to afford tuition when they're in the can? They're supposed to be try and rehabilitate... but they've got to pay for it with no job, no money? How many prisoners do you think can afford $400 a class? That wouldn't exactly be encouraging them to get educated if you're going to ding them money they don't have.

Second, I didn't say anything about "decent" food. Talk to whoever did.

You complain that we don't know what we're talking about and I've yet to see you explain exactly how it is. Maybe some enlightenment for us would help.

Er... you honestly think its a country club environment in these places? Seriously? Look, if you truly believe that prisoners sit around getting saunas and playing videogames all day, then fair enough. I disagree. It sucks in prison. If you really want me to research that 'prison is a bad place to be', I will... but I really don't want to waste my time on something that should be patently obvious; prison is not 'fun and games'.

[Antithesis]

Oops. Thought it was RU replying. I took the stupid pills today, I suppose.

I am all for programs which will work to keep criminals from being criminals, however that may be.

As for the free university educations, they should have to work for them - just like I have. I'm sure there are plenty of opportunities for prisoners to do work that will benefit society.

[duncan]

Originally Posted by FireFly

Perhaps you shouldn't be one to talk about knowing 'butkus'. My cousin through marriage, (not blood,) is in Drum and has been there for 9? years. What do you suppose he's going to do when he gets out? The man doesn't know anything but prison life, and he's done rather well for himself in that setting, being one of the 'tough guys' who gets to push others around. You think he wants to give that up so he can be a nothing on the streets? As a matter of fact, he's actually broken out to ensure that he stays his whole term as previously, he was trying to get out early for good behaviour. He has received an education, and a decent one at that as he's working on a degree right now, but when he gets out, who will want to hire him?

My second cousin, once removed is a biochemist, I guess I can cure cancer.

I've worked in the field for over 15 years, and an idiot's reign on the top of the food chain comes to an end. Every prisoner knows enough to look over his shoulder, because he is one shank from the bottom of the food chain.
I am sure he really enjoys the lack of privacy, smoking butt tobacco, orange peel wine.... you know, the finer things in life. I'm sure that everyone looks forward to that 9 year span where the only intimacy comes from mother thumb and her four sisters, or if you buy into the prison life, your hairy neighbour. Some people become institutionalized, and become scared of 'the outs', but no one wants to be there. You may be hearing the machismo, what he wants his friends and family to think, so no one worries.
One inmate I know spent 3 years earning his props, beating up guys, one day he heavied the wrong guy, a guy with connections to a major biker gang. He beat the guy up to save face, and was forced into 'PC' for his own safety. When the guy eventually got out, he slept with a shotgun in his bed for 3 years. As I said earlier, prisons have their own culture and laws, they have leaders, soldiers and fish. It is unacceptable to be in for a sex offence, but okay to commit one when there. Homosexuality is also unacceptable, but you are not gay if you receive oral sex, because "a mouth is a mouth" It is far from a 4 star, it isn't even a 1 star.