4 ms·

Somehow the left has become incredibly radical about every other issue, but isn't dealing with the basics like this, which have been discussed for many decades

Somehow the left has become incredibly radical about every other issue, but isn't dealing with the basics like this, which have been discussed for many decades and most of the public would support reforming?

ethanbond 4y ago
Most of the public supports "reform," sure. Just half the country wants reform that looks like more privatization, harsher sentences, less probation/parole, more pre-trial incarceration, fewer books available, lower cost/quality food, fewer medical services available, etc. etc. Trump actually took a big step in the right direction with the First Step Act and the GOP was... chilly to it, to say the least.
- epicureanideal 4y ago
  I don’t actually think half the country supports all the things you said. Some people are for harsher sentences, sure, but if they had the option of a compromise where the sentences were slightly longer but the conditions much better I suspect they might accept such a compromise.
  - ethanbond 4y ago
    Sure, "half the country supports some combination of [list of bad and counterproductive reforms]." Consider it edited! The reality is that some people view prison as a punitive system, and others do not. These people can agree or disagree on specific reforms but fundamentally it's very hard to see eye-to-eye because they are operating toward totally different goals.
user3939382 4y ago
The establishment left i.e. "The Democratic party" is on many issues left in name only, and actually comprised of pro-war, pro-censorship, anti-labor, right-wing corporatists. This is much more of a problem with the party in DC than the People. The focus is exclusively on social issues as a diversion from the corrupt theft of our tax dollars for their executive buddies.
- epicureanideal 4y ago
  Awesome reply. That makes sense. Thanks for sharing.
themitigating 4y ago
Biden just signed a bill to reduce the cost of Prison phone calls by a significant amount [1]. Here's more details on how excessive the charges were. https://harvardpolitics.com/jail-phone-calls/ https://harvardpolitics.com/jail-phone-calls/ . Is your argument that because the Democrats haven't tackled the issue with privatization of mail and/or haven't spoken out about it they don't care? Maybe they will, maybe not, at least they have done something. All the sponsors of this bill are Democrats or independent. To be fair it was approved by voice vote so some number of Republicans might have been ok with it? (I'm not sure how that works)[2] [1]"Biden signs a bill to fight expensive prison phone call costs." https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1146370950/prison-phone-call-cost-martha-wright-biden https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1146370950/prison-phone-call-... [2]https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1372341 https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1372341
r053bud 4y ago
The democrats make just as much money on private prisons and defense contracts as the rest of them. It’s their business!

ethanbond 4y ago

Most of the public supports "reform," sure. Just half the country wants reform that looks like more privatization, harsher sentences, less probation/parole, more pre-trial incarceration, fewer books available, lower cost/quality food, fewer medical services available, etc. etc. Trump actually took a big step in the right direction with the First Step Act and the GOP was... chilly to it, to say the least.

epicureanideal 4y ago
I don’t actually think half the country supports all the things you said. Some people are for harsher sentences, sure, but if they had the option of a compromise where the sentences were slightly longer but the conditions much better I suspect they might accept such a compromise.
- ethanbond 4y ago
  Sure, "half the country supports some combination of [list of bad and counterproductive reforms]." Consider it edited! The reality is that some people view prison as a punitive system, and others do not. These people can agree or disagree on specific reforms but fundamentally it's very hard to see eye-to-eye because they are operating toward totally different goals.

user3939382 4y ago

The establishment left i.e. "The Democratic party" is on many issues left in name only, and actually comprised of pro-war, pro-censorship, anti-labor, right-wing corporatists. This is much more of a problem with the party in DC than the People. The focus is exclusively on social issues as a diversion from the corrupt theft of our tax dollars for their executive buddies.

epicureanideal 4y ago
Awesome reply. That makes sense. Thanks for sharing.

themitigating 4y ago

Biden just signed a bill to reduce the cost of Prison phone calls by a significant amount [1]. Here's more details on how excessive the charges were. https://harvardpolitics.com/jail-phone-calls/ https://harvardpolitics.com/jail-phone-calls/ . Is your argument that because the Democrats haven't tackled the issue with privatization of mail and/or haven't spoken out about it they don't care? Maybe they will, maybe not, at least they have done something. All the sponsors of this bill are Democrats or independent. To be fair it was approved by voice vote so some number of Republicans might have been ok with it? (I'm not sure how that works)[2] [1]"Biden signs a bill to fight expensive prison phone call costs." https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1146370950/prison-phone-call-cost-martha-wright-biden https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1146370950/prison-phone-call-... [2]https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1372341 https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1372341

r053bud 4y ago

The democrats make just as much money on private prisons and defense contracts as the rest of them. It’s their business!