american prisons - Page 6

TheFranklinParty · #51 (**permalink**) 02-10-2010, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennyhill

People like you argue both ways.

Convicts should be locked up forever (hanging is even better) but it shouldnt cost the taxpayers a dime and the victims should be compensated. How should that work?

Our present judicial system is too expensive, because "harmless crimes" receive harsh and long prison terms.

Victims should be partially compensated from the state, how and how much one can discuss later.
Only violent criminals need to be locked up. Nonvilolant crimes ie fraud could wear a chain around their aleg and be permitted/ forced to work for a living. A portion of their salary would be taken from the state and used to compensate their victims.
With this idea we could close a lot of expensive prisons.
Finally, we could replace the death penalty in all 50 states with life terms. Why? It would be cheaper than the death penalty or send them to Afghanistan on a suicide mission.

In principle I agree with you...it just shows that with a little common sense it could be made much simpler and more efficient.

bennyhill · #52 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 02:31 AM

Its much eaiser for politicians to behave like popolistic, instead as clever.
A governour would never pardon a man a death row, because he would be shown as being soft on crime. Because the states want to punish nornale people with even longer terms, its no wonder that California is broke and cant afforad to pay for their prisons.

It would be clever to put only violent persons behind bar and (mafia criminals) and the rest back to work and pay off their crime (if thats possible, remember Lehmann Brothes).

You cant win votes by being clever, you win votes by being hard onr crime.

TheFranklinParty · #53 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennyhill

Its much eaiser for politicians to behave like popolistic, instead as clever.
A governour would never pardon a man a death row, because he would be shown as being soft on crime. Because the states want to punish nornale people with even longer terms, its no wonder that California is broke and cant afforad to pay for their prisons.

It would be clever to put only violent persons behind bar and (mafia criminals) and the rest back to work and pay off their crime (if thats possible, remember Lehmann Brothes).

You cant win votes by being clever, you win votes by being hard onr crime.

Not to combine threads, but the fact that 1/3 of the violent criminals in California, Texas, and Arizona are illegal immigrants. Interesting how that impacts the cost of prisons.

bennyhill · #54 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 06:04 AM

It is very interesting how we all see petty crimes compared to white collar crimes.

The banks nearly destroyed the world finance market, the taxpayers saved the system and the bankers kept their bonis.

Somebody who steals $200.00 dollars can sit in prison. Dont want to discuss morals with you, but only ask you if you see a slight hypocracy? In Germany its the same thinking so dont take this persoanl.

TheFranklinParty · #55 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennyhill

It is very interesting how we all see petty crimes compared to white collar crimes.

The banks nearly destroyed the world finance market, the taxpayers saved the system and the bankers kept their bonis.

Somebody who steals $200.00 dollars can sit in prison. Dont want to discuss morals with you, but only ask you if you see a slight hypocracy? In Germany its the same thinking so dont take this persoanl.

The media and the politicians want to vilify the Bankers, but the reality is that it was a group effort that allowed the destruction of our financial system. In the U.S., the gov't backing of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the forcing of bad loans on community and regional banks was the real motivator. Add to that the pure stupidity of so many people to buy homes outside their reach and all we needed was a match to start that fire.

The real world-wide problem was primarily the fault of Credit Default Swaps not being collateralized at all. This weeks Political Common Sense for America - Newsletter has an article on how Credit Default Swaps work and how they caused much of the financial problems. It will be posted later today... Link to Newsletters

bennyhill · #56 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 07:29 AM

Frank,

How do you feel (if you have an opinion) about the concept of a bad bank?
Doesnt this mean pushing the risk of toxic paper to the taxpapers?

If I had toxic papers in my privat portfoio, where is my bad bank? Why should we help the banks, without getting paid a high interest in return? If I overdraw my account I have to pay 18.25% interest. What are the banks paying?

TheFranklinParty · #57 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennyhill

Frank,

How do you feel (if you have an opinion) about the concept of a bad bank?
Doesnt this mean pushing the risk of toxic paper to the taxpapers?

If I had toxic papers in my privat portfoio, where is my bad bank? Why should we help the banks, without getting paid a high interest in return? If I overdraw my account I have to pay 18.25% interest. What are the banks paying?

The bad bank idea is a scam...this goes back to what you said on another thread about economists...when reality doesn't follow their theories they panic and come up with the stupidest things. Everything has value, it just might not be the value that we would hope for. Just like these batched sub-prime mortgages. Investment companies are slowly unwinding these and buying them at 20 to 50 cents on the dollar and making money. If they had forced this to happen sooner we would be closer to the end. Also, the fact that the CDS's were allowed to be sold without margin was insane and put whole countries at risk. This is much of what is causing panic around Greece.

bennyhill · #58 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 07:58 AM

Breaking News Frankie,

The EU has promised to save Greeces ass, by giving them loans! Plan B (they default) is not an option. Thats politics.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Works only among politiicans.

Two days ago EU leaders said they would not give Greece money, so much for credibility.

TheFranklinParty · #59 (**permalink**) 02-11-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bennyhill

Breaking News Frankie,

The EU has promised to save Greeces ass, by giving them loans! Plan B (they default) is not an option. Thats politics.

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Works only among politiicans.

Two days ago EU leaders said they would not give Greece money, so much for credibility.

Gave EU leaders and their backers to cash in on the market flux. Being in power has its advantages.

bennyhill · #60 (**permalink**) 02-14-2010, 04:11 AM

Dont understand what you want to say, but Im guessing you mean the EU doesnt matter much.

View Poll Results: Should a prison be a rotten place to do time?
Yes, they have to be scared to death so they mend their ways	5	71.43%
No, they need a second chance when there released	2	28.57%
Yes, but onlyl for crimes like rape and murder	0	0%
dont care, dont know	0	0%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 7. You may not vote on this poll

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Privatized Prisons	Joe Castro	Western Europe	8	04-17-2009 10:39 AM
Private Prisons?	shhs97	Political Opinions & Beliefs	11	03-19-2009 02:00 AM
Prisons Overcrowding	Bluedoggy	Current Events	3	09-25-2007 09:49 AM
US prisons	noetsi	Current Events	21	06-12-2006 01:09 PM
American Prisons Full of Pot Smokers	DBG	Off-Topic Chat	2	07-13-2005 01:58 PM