A really important issue
I’m not a fan of Organizing for Action. I think they’ve squandered a chance to be effective, and judging from the emails I’ve received from them they’ve focused mainly on things I don’t care about or don’t support. In short, it’s been much more a centrist/center-left organization than a truly progressive one, because the Obama administration is a centrist/somewhat-center-left administration.
But this email, which I received yesterday, is about something extremely important. If you too care about this issue, you might want to add your name to the list of people who really do care about this.
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| Beverly — It’s National Reentry Week, a time when we shed a light on the resources needed to help those who were formerly incarcerated get another shot to join their communities in a positive way. In America, we believe in second chances — that even if you make a mistake that lands you in jail, if you serve your time, you can still earn a second chance at the American Dream. At least, that’s the way it’s supposed to work. But our criminal justice system is broken. Every year, more than 600,000 Americans get released from prison ready to make a new start, only to be met with often insurmountable obstacles. Getting a job, finding affordable housing, and getting access to both health care and education are all significantly harder. For too many, the system is rigged to fail. Add your name to the fight to reform America’s broken criminal justice system. Our system is not supposed to make it easier to revert back to criminal behavior than to become a productive member of society, but it often does. Preventing relapses into crime is one of the most fundamental priorities of criminal justice, but with the system set up as it is today, too many Americans end up trapped in a cruel cycle of poverty and crime that weakens our communities. That’s why President Obama’s administration has consistently taken steps to make our system fairer, smarter, less expensive, and more effective. From reducing barriers to employment, to increasing access to education for formerly-incarcerated individuals, the President continues to do what he can, where he can. But that’s not going to be enough. Some members of Congress have already been working on the issue, but if we’re going to break down the very real barriers that stand in the way of citizens returning to society to become positive members of their communities, we need more of their colleagues to come to the table and pass a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill. Join OFA supporters all over the country to call for a criminal justice system that lives up to our values. Add your name to be a part of this fight: https://my.barackobama.com/Stand-For-Criminal-Justice-Reform Thank you for your continued support, Sara Sara El-Amine Executive Director Organizing for Action |
Center right solution!
Reverse the privatization of jails and go to Amsterdam model in dealing with drug dependency.
The answer is to put your finger in that leak.
No change parties should be shunned.
Yup. All, and all at once, or nothing at all is the Ticket! Actually, it’s only people who have no direct stake in something of this sort who have the luxury of believing that.
As for private prisons, Sanders made that a part of his early stump speech. He also noted, although not in the stump speech, that Clinton’s campaign, or her main PAC (I think it was the PAC, because I think there was more money involved that the $2,700 max), accepted contributions from one or both of the two private-prisons companies. Then she or her PAC announced that it donating the contributions to charity and would not accept any further contributions.
It’s this kind of thing that just makes my head spin when I think about the loyalty that older and middle-aged blacks have for this woman and her husband.
But here’s the thing: She will owe her nomination, and therefore, her general election victory to African-Americans. Presumably, this will make members of the Black Congressional Caucus and other high-profile politically involved blacks have actual access to her. And presumably they will demand major legislation that not only changes federal criminal a quasi-criminal (e.g., failure to pay a traffic fine or municipal-ordinance fine, and bail assessments and such, in state court proceedings as well.
I mean … given her clear debt to African-Americans, maybe they will be high up on the list of “you”s whom she’ll be fighting for.
Bev:
Sigh, why do you wish to cure a symptom rather than the actual disease? You do know where I am going to take you on this?
Bill, I don’t. It’s just that this is what’s on offer right now. The rest will begin a year from now, if all goes well.
I meant, I don’t just want to cure this symptom, not that I don’t know where you want to go on this. You and I want to go exactly the same place on this. Maybe a year from now that will begin to be possible.
Why would corporate Democratic whores like OFA give a damn about poor ex-felons? All they care about is getting hedge fund managers and other Wall Street big shots an extra $100 million. Everybody knows that.
Wow, Urban Legend. Out of the mouths of babes! You might care to read my response to ilsm’s comment, re Clinton and private prisons.