moonkat235
Well-known member
Oh, but I did wanna say thank you for the discussion and perspective. I appreciate it. I've had a lot of issues sustaining mental effort/focus since I quit adderall, but I will try and think on these things.
Random Political Thoughts without Memes
- Thread starter david starling
- Start date
CapAquaPis
Well-known member
I had a reply from a FB friend who is farther left than I am (a center-Left and a Democrat) stating there was no 9.5-year long economic growth spurt and the middle class is dead, after all Obama and Clinton are not social democrats, and worked with mostly conservative anti-New Deal Republican congresses. Back in 1997, Pres. Bill Clinton himself said "the era of big government is over"...the New Deal era since FDR in 1933 has officially ended after 64 years in place. In 2020, let's see if social democrats like Bernie Sanders and/or Liz Warren are running, one of them is nominated and ultimately, elected president of the USA.
JUPITERASC
Well-known member
US prison workforce consists of MODERN DAY SLAVES
inmates are exploited as extremely low-paid workers
in state and federal prison
Prisoners aren't counted in standard labor surveys
but
United States workforce includes 870,000 working inmates
US has highest incarceration rate in the world.
US prisons could not keep operating
if they had to pay prisoners the minimum wage
- paying outside workers to do the work that inmates do
would raise costs by 30 to 45 times
for the same services.
and so
currently US prison industry saves $hundreds of millions annually on labor costs.
but
without a source of income
inmates’ families often rely on government social safety net programs.
prison shops are undercutting wages
the vast majority of these workers, almost 700,000
do "institutional maintenance" work
- mopping cellblock floors
- preparing and serving food in the dining hall
- mowing the lawns
- filing papers in the warden's office
- laundering millions of tons of uniforms and bed linens.
median wage in state and federal prisons is 20 and 31 cents an hour, respectively
inmate workers are not considered "employees" under the law
they have none of the protections that word implies
In three states - Texas, Georgia, and Arkansas - inmates work for free.
In Texas, inmates are required to work under threat of punishment
most do maintenance tasks
but some are assigned to "field force" jobs
designed to be particularly demeaning
JUPITERASC
Well-known member
Great theory - unfortunately US jobs mostly outsourced abroad
current President has zero political experience
is a multi-billionaire real estate developer
Dirius
Well-known member
US prison workforce consists of MODERN DAY SLAVES
inmates are exploited as extremely low-paid workers
in state and federal prison
Prisoners aren't counted in standard labor surveys
but
United States workforce includes 870,000 working inmates
US has highest incarceration rate in the world.
US prisons could not keep operating
if they had to pay prisoners the minimum wage
- paying outside workers to do the work that inmates do
would raise costs by 30 to 45 times
for the same services.
and so
currently US prison industry saves $hundreds of millions annually on labor costs.
but
without a source of income
inmates’ families often rely on government social safety net programs.
prison shops are undercutting wages
the vast majority of these workers, almost 700,000
do "institutional maintenance" work
- mopping cellblock floors
- preparing and serving food in the dining hall
- mowing the lawns
- filing papers in the warden's office
- laundering millions of tons of uniforms and bed linens.
median wage in state and federal prisons is 20 and 31 cents an hour, respectively
inmate workers are not considered "employees" under the law
they have none of the protections that word implies
In three states - Texas, Georgia, and Arkansas - inmates work for free.
In Texas, inmates are required to work under threat of punishment
most do maintenance tasks
but some are assigned to "field force" jobs
designed to be particularly demeaning
I don't see that as bad if the focus is to teach them a skill which they can use once they are outside. The problem is rather the corruption within prisons systems.
JUPITERASC
Well-known member
- mopping cellblock floors
- preparing and serving food in the dining hall
- mowing the lawns
- filing papers in the warden's office
- laundering millions of tons of uniforms and bed linens
requires no skills, teaches no skills and is unskilled labor
Dirius
Well-known member
- mopping cellblock floors
- preparing and serving food in the dining hall
- mowing the lawns
- filing papers in the warden's office
- laundering millions of tons of uniforms and bed linens
requires no skills, teaches no skills and is unskilled labor
In my country, one prison in one province began a wood workshop for inmates. For some years now they have been building wooden toys (at cheap prices) for children. The theory behind having inmates work is good, but I agree with you, it needs to be something that is worthwhile both to them and society. In this particular case, they make cheap toys that low income families can afford for their kids. They range from toy cars, tennis balls, picture books, etc.
Here is a news article about it, if you can speak spanish or translate it you might find it interesting: https://losandes.com.ar/article/presos-fabrican-juguetes-para-el-dia-del-nino
JUPITERASC
Well-known member
Thanks - learning languages is one of my interests
I won't post any ancient Egyptian political hieroglyphics
as these are likely labelled as memes
I can read Greek and Latin
decipher a few Egyptian hieroglyphics
also decoding Sumerian tablets
I can understand Spanish
and
am easily misunderstood in more than one other language as well
by the way
for anyone interested there is plenty of free instruction online
as well as google translate
I agree that inmates need to learn worthwhile skills
a worthwhile skill for inmates as well as prison staff to learn
is MEDITATION
in some states US police officers are attending meditation classes
ARIZONA POLICE CHIEF INTRODUCES OFFICERS TO MEDITATION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFCgF8-6NU
CANADIAN POLICE OFFICERS MEDITATING
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNDlDD2Fjnk
david starling
Well-known member
If you're a MAGAnista, when, in your opinion did America STOP being Great, and require your efforts to make it Great AGAIN? 
Last edited:
Dirius
Well-known member
2019: State of New York (democrat controlled) decided to slash funds from the special olympics events for its 2020 budget.
2019: State of New York (democrat controlled) decided to increase salary of every legislator (213 in total) for 2020 budget.
You guys understand how socialism works now?
2019: State of New York (democrat controlled) decided to increase salary of every legislator (213 in total) for 2020 budget.
You guys understand how socialism works now?
david starling
Well-known member
Isn't government funding for the Special Olympics something that you would consider a "socialist" program? And those same N.Y. Democrats are planning on seeking more private-sector donations for the S.O. Doesn't that meet with your approval?
david starling
Well-known member
The big story is that a Republican proposed cutting $Millions of tax dollars for the Special Olympics from the Federal budget. Is that something you would approve of?
Dirius
Well-known member
So they are seeking donations in order to fund the special olympics...
... but they use tax money to fund their own salaries ...?
Are you so far gone that you can't see the irony david?
david starling
Well-known member
So, you're in favor of special-interest groups like corporations paying their salaries, and the government paying for the Special Olympics? Interesting!
david starling
Well-known member
I'd have the voters deciding on pay increases for their elected representatives. It's ridiculous that they can vote themselves a pay raise.
JUPITERASC
Well-known member
MSM had a narrative to push. They had NO interest in finding out the truth
or getting the students’ perspective.
Instead, they were more focused demonizing Trump supporters
based on nothing more than the color of their skin.
GUILTY: Being White & Wearing a MAGA Hat in Public
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrPsWv1y9DQ
UPDATE
Covington Student WINS Defamation Battle With CNN
Legal Team Announces MORE LAWSUITS Coming!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtQd7SwUbXs
CNN has agreed to settle for an undisclosed amount
with Nick Sandman the student from Covington Catholic
who was smeared and defamed
by various personalities and networks.
While some are claiming that this is a defeat as they won't go to trial
we need to consider the context around the lawsuits.
CNN and Washington Post tried to get the suits dismissed
but a judge recently allowed the suit against WaPo to enter discovery,
meaning it was moving forward.
Sandmann's legal team was preparing more lawsuits
and was gaining ground in the battle.
Presumably CNN saw the signs on the wall
and knew they were going to lose and decided to cave.
I can only assume considering the major support and advantage of the Convington student
that CNN paid out a very hefty sum, though the full amount is undisclosed
The battle is not over.
Sandmann's team is going after Nathan Phillips and other outlets.
At the same time Devin Nunes, Lara Logan, and others
are suing various news outlets for smears and fake news.
Defamation lawsuits are popping up as people no longer will sit idly by
as their names and reputations are tarnished.
david starling
Well-known member
Yes, even though I'm in California, so no chance of even one Electoral vote for the Greens.
I was hoping Jay Inslee would have a chance as the Democratic nominee, but he's not in the running. Might not bother voting this year.
david starling
Well-known member
You're politically astute. in your own objective opinion, who among the potential Democratic nominees stands the best chance of winning the ELECTORAL vote (not the Popular vote, which doesn't count). I'm still thinking Biden, despite his poor start and spontaneous rudeness, which might actually be an asset versus Trump's spontaneous rudeness. Also, he's the only candidate who would have a married First Lady, if that matters. Catholic might be more appealing to the Swing-States than Jewish, straight rather than gay, well-known as a Vice-president, being supportive of his sketchy son might be a plus rather than a minus, NOT self-labeled a Socialist, feisty, etc.
But, I'm just guessing what would appeal the most to the Midwest and Florida.
Any one of the candidates would be a huge improvement regarding Green issues.
david starling
Well-known member
Just realized: In modern slang idiom, Trump's a DRAMA QUEEN! Fits it to a "T"!
Does that make him the first female President?
Does that make him the first female President?