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Penitentiary Blues |
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The New York Times says that 1 out of 100 adult Americans was incarcerated in 2006, and probably more than that today. A startling rise, especially on those always visceral charts. The prison-industrial complex is a nasty thing indeed. Throw in the voter manipulation mentioned earlier by Mac, as felons of course lose voting rights in some states, add the racism that's endemic in our legal system, mix, serve frothy. Paranoia shakes, a wee prison bit in the craw.
It's the definition of a criminal that we've gotten confused, I think. Being crazy or weird or irrepressible isn't worthy of prison. Violence or theft, aye, but we live in a country where yelling on a street corner or knocking over a single symbolic shopping display can get you tazed and dragged away. Maybe we need to add the Right to Perform Art into the Bill of Rights.
50 bucks for a street performer's license?
This is where you start attacking the drug war issue IMO. Start with the crazy incarceration rate. From there, work your way towards the reasons for that rate.
Yeah, it definitely is. Add to it the fact that prison labor and private contractors thrive on the increased incarceration rate which in turn presents itself as evidence that more funds are needed…