4 ms·
"People in the US could be convinced to get behind major prison reform if the reformers weren't so insistent on representing every felon as Jean Valjean." It's
by rqtwteye 4y ago
"People in the US could be convinced to get behind major prison reform if the reformers weren't so insistent on representing every felon as Jean Valjean."
It's pretty crazy to blame the current situation on reformers. In reality it's the war on drugs and "tough on crime". I know a lot of normally reasonable people who think prisoners deserve to be raped in prison and don't deserve health care.
- Paul-Craft 4y agoRight. It's well known that Nixon started the "War on Drugs" as a way to target hippies and black people. And "tough on crime" has just led to people spending more time in prison in spite of falling crime rates: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2020/oct/1/new-study-shows-tough-crime-generation-spent-more-time-prison-despite-falling-crime-rate/ https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2020/oct/1/new-study-sh...
- kevviiinn 4y agoGotta keep those private prisons full. We need more cheap and free labor!
- quacked 4y agoI did not say that the current situation was created by the reformers, merely that the existing US prison reform movements lack the support they need to move the needle because they are controlled by people who are far too broadly optimistic and sympathetic to prisoners. I view prison reform as the most important--not among the most important, the most important--step in beginning to change modern US society for the better. I know many prison activists and was raised in a culture of people who volunteered in prisons and in legal efforts to reform prisons and assist prisoners. They are too sympathetic and the way they frame their cause reduces the amount of support they receive from the general public.