(May 19, 2015 at 1:15 am)whateverist Wrote: If there is one thing we do well and often it is incarcerate.  Such a versatile tool that you rarely need any other.

An often overlooked (perhaps intentionally on the part of the more left leaning) is the correlation between the ever raising incarceration rate in the US and the steadily dropping crime rate.  

Prisons create criminals and train them.

(May 19, 2015 at 12:23 pm)popeyespappy Wrote:

(May 19, 2015 at 1:15 am)whateverist Wrote: If there is one thing we do well and often it is incarcerate.  Such a versatile tool that you rarely need any other.

An often overlooked (perhaps intentionally on the part of the more left leaning) is the correlation between the ever raising incarceration rate in the US and the steadily dropping crime rate.  

I have little doubt that in some percentage of the cases what you say is true. The question is does it hurt more than it helps? The correlation between incarceration and crime rate is hard to dismiss out of hand without evidence that there is no cause involved. 

(May 19, 2015 at 12:43 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Prisons create criminals and train them.

Locking up some kid for smoking marijuana isn't making us safer.

Agreed, Pyrrho. Prisons should be be for violent offenders who are a danger to the public. No way kids smoking joints should be there. Fucking ridiculous. Like Min says, you're only molding a criminal in that environment.

My take:

helluva waste for a bunch of big hairy virile men to get murderated without a chance to boink me first.









Or vice versa.

(May 21, 2015 at 2:28 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

I believe in profiling.  You would too if your life was on the line.  I'd be more cautious if I came upon a bunch of funky looking bikers on chopped harleys with nazi helmets than if it was a bunch of clean looking guys on honda gold wings with expensive helmets and leathers.  It's just common sense.

You haven't been paying attention at all, have you?



Not a single gun pointed at them.  None of them are in handcuffs or leg shackles.  Not one is being tased. 

Imagine if it was a black biker gang?  Or just a bunch of guys standing on a street corner.

Guess what.  We don't have to imagine it.

But the profiling has to fit the crime you are worried about.  Wanton violence and meth sales?  Keep an eye on the guys with the Nazi helmets.  Fucking your parents out of their pensions, buying off politicians, and tanking the economy?  Keep a close watch on the Honda assholes.

It's just common sense.