Young Turks: 1 in 4 Americans Have Criminal Record - Employer Discrimination

[CherylK]

Run time: 04:48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeEyDXqBIa8   Posted on YouTube: March 27, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 14646   Posted on DU: March 28, 2011 By DU Member: CherylK Views on DU: 984

 
Ana Kasparian and Cenk Uygur discuss statistics from the National Employment Law Center showing that 1 in 4 adults in the United States has a criminal record. The ACLU argues that employers are discriminating against employees on this bases because a disproportionate number of those with records are African American (and non-violent drug offenders).

[Travis_0004]

1. An employeer has every right to hire the best person.

If two equal candidates appear before them, one has a criminal record, and one doesn't, the one without the criminal record will probably get the job. I see nothing wrong with it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. So what jobs will be available for those with criminal records?

I ask this because years ago, before we became the society of fear we are now, I worked with an ex-convict who was an excellent employee and eventually became the manager of the store where we worked together. He had rehabilitated himself in prison and went on to lead a crime free life as a productive citizen. So it is possible for those with criminal records to reform. If we slam doors for them, what will they do?

[Travis_0004]

4. I have coworkers with criminal records, who were excellent employees

I've also had many coworkers with a clean record that were horrible employees. I'm not saying that somebody with a criminal record should be unemployed, but they need to really impress me and stand out above other candidates.

[Newest Reality]

3. Granted, they have that right ...

So, what do we do as a society in this kind of a crises? When one-quarter of your population has a criminal record, what does that say?

Do we yield to the notion that, (as the statistics point out) that many people are defective or criminal when a large percentage of them are merely involved in drugs? Does the society and the system have anything to do with the problem at hand?

Practically speaking, is it acceptable to have that many people being virtually unemployable? How does that benefit anything but a thriving, growing, private prison industry? How do we expect to benefit from this and offer no positive solutions?

[Sivafae]

7. What about the idea that one has paid one's debt to society eom

[Plucketeer]

5. Yet ONE MORE point against the STUPID WOD!

How LONG are we going to persist in THROWING AWAY BILLIONS to try and prohibit folks from using drugs??? :crazy: Let those who want drugs, HAVE drugs! Better yet, PROVIDE the stuff for free to anyone over 18. If alot of folks OD - hey - what a way to go! And wouldn't that be better than them wasting away in prisons where WE'RE forced to foot the bill for them?
And with THIS stupid impediment to them being able to get work, we're DRIVING them towards doing REAL criminal endeavors. Geez - LET FOLKS INGEST WHATEVER THEY WANT! If they cause death, injury or mayhem because of their drug use - THEN incarcerate them as a criminal.

[stockholmer]

6. +1000 , with a comment

its all part of the profit/surveillance matrix

The war on drugs makes huge profits for drug cartels, who launder 10's of billions in USA banks like Warren Buffett-backed Wachovia/BOA, the prison system is being privatized and needs more 'clients' for more profit centers.

The WOD is also a further excuse to take way civil liberties (95% of Patriot Act convictions so far involve driugs) and finally, a drug offense criminal record turns most into debt-peonage slavery system worker bees, so labour pool/wages are debased.

[On the Road]

8. It's a Lot Higher Among My Tenants

Seems like everyone who applies has some sort of a background. You simply have to decide who's least likely to be a problem in the future. One of my best tenants was in prison for manslaughter -- but it was years ago and he's been clean since.

I understand the sentiment about the war on drugs, but the flip side is that it's a compelling reason not to take drugs -- your opportunities are so much more limited. It's why I don't smoke -- there's too much to lose.