Yay America is number 1!... USA! USA! USA!

[Xicano]

America is number 1! Not in standard of living. Not in health care. Not in fitness. Not in education. Not even in happiness. Nope, instead, we can claim being number 1! when it comes to getting locked up. Yes indeed. America, at just 5% of the world's population we house 25% of the world's prison population. The "land of the free" where one out of every four persons locked up in the world is an American, making us the world's capital of prisoners. Doesn't that just make you proud?

We'll arrest you for bringing a marker to school. We'll arrest you for laughing at a fat cop who can't run fast enough to catch a fleeing stoner. We'll even arrest you for being homeless. But hey, at least the land of the free is number 1!

It didn't always use to be this way. So what happened? Well, two things primarily: 1) The War on Drugs. 2) Privatized prisons for profit. Please Click Me

In the graph below notice the point of sharp increase around 1980? In addiction to corresponding with when Ronald Raygun took office, it also corresponds to a few other things. Just a few years earlier in 1973 Nixon's super agency The DEA is established. Also, even though private prisons had been around for quite a while, however, during the 1980's privatization of prisons sharply increased resulting from......you guessed it - deregulation and incoming President Ronald Raygun's holy crusade in the war on drugs. How coincidental the two combined makes lots and lots of money.








In the name of MONEY; in the land of the free you can be arrested and thrown into prison without facts. Marijuana laws prove this. Marijuana was criminalized without any empirical data indicating it was a police matter related to the public's health, safety or welfare. These public concerns regarding marijuana were never established as factual. Instead Harry J. Anslinger, the first Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner used hearsay and incitement of racial bigotry fear when testifying to congress.

Therefore as an American, in the land of the free you are not free from your government fabricating facts and reducing your actions into crimes. No fundamental right to be free from prosecution for causing no measurable harm to the public’s health, safety or welfare exists in America. All in the name of profits lobbied for by the prison industrial complex, alcoholic beverage industry - (link), as well as others lobbied interests.



Yes USA we're #1!







{Edit for spelling}

[RKP5637]

1. And many in the masses will applaud how all the bad guys/gals are being

locked up as a police state for profit is created. It's all getting disgusting.

[sabrina 1]

4. Yes, as long as they can say 'well, it has happened to me, so

it's not a problem', they will ignore it. And then when it does happen to them, who are they going to turn to.

The same thing with Chertoff's scanners. I have noticed how those who are attempting to defend these abuses, always use themselves as an example of why they are not a problem 'well, I flew four times last month and everything was wonderful, and if they want to see my junk, I have no problem with that' etc. etc.

No ability to see the larger issue, just 'me, I'm okay' and 'I don't care about anyone else'.

[RKP5637]

5. Yep, it's really getting to be a negative trend in the US, no ability to see the

big picture, just 'me, I'm okay' and 'I don't care about anyone else.'

I'm not sure where it ends up, if the present trends continue it will not be good at all. Many in the US seem to have no knowledge of history and what has happened in various civilizations that became not very civil.

[Taverner]

2. I say lock up all the dirty, damn hippies

And you kids stay off my lawn!

All joking aside, the Teabag Nation probably looks at these statistics and thinks the USA is number one BECAUSE of this.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. I wonder what happened in 1981?

Hope it's covered in the biography.

[Sonoman]

6. Cocaine

Iran/Contra was on and all that coke had to go somewhere - right to LA and the Crips and Bloods. That, in turned, fueled the incredible acceleration of urban gangs. Then the Central American gangs followed the coke.

And the for-profit prisons were just sitting there with open arms.

Sonoman

[11 Bravo]

14. More specifically, "crack" cocaine. White kids moving a little Peruvian flake in Beverly Hills ...

was not considered a real problems. Black kids in D.C. getting rich selling rock was a fucking national emergency, and the asinine sentencing guidelines are proof of that.

[Capitalocracy]

42. And the Corrections Corporation of America

got its first contract in 1984.

[Sonoman]

7. "In addiction to corresponding with when Ronald Raygun took office"

Most apropos typo, ever.

Sonoman

[SylviaD]

29. I don't think it was a typo...

I've seen him referred to as "Raygun" many times, and it is 100% appropriate given his views on the military and star wars.

[Art_from_Ark]

32. I believe the typo being referred to is

"in addiCtion to"

[Sonoman]

38. I was referring to the 'addiction' part. nt

[Xicano]

41. Yes I misspelled addition.

Basically I was also going to add some information about US addiction rates vs countries with more liberal drug laws, but decided to edit it out and I guess I accidentally left in the word addiction. Or I might of just simply misspelled it on accident. But yeah, as far as Ronald "Raygun" is concerned, that was intentional.


Peace,
Xicano

[proud patriot]

8. The only thing I'd like to add to the list of causes

is the under funding of mental illness and mental institutions .

[Rex]

9. The Land of the Criminals.

Home of the Cronies.

[indepat]

10. America is number 1 alright: number 1 in implementation of a far RW ideology which is the genesis of

all this and America ranking at/near number 1 in income disparity, concentration of most wealth among a relative few, and expenditure for the military/national defense (almost half of the world's expenditure for about 5% of the world's population). The other side of this coin is the USA's ranking at or near the bottom in most quality of life rankings, including infant and maternal mortality, among the industrialized nations. Could there be some correlation here? Welcome to the fruition of the RW's wet dream of life in America, all made possible by corporatist executive and legislatives branches of government and an ever-so-fascist-seeming Supreme Court. A continued downward spiral in the standard of living for the masses is inevitable in the absence of a return to a progressive government beholden to the people rather than Wall Street, large corporations, and other monied interests. :shrug:

[defendandprotect]

33. What we must see is that we're all being taken down together.....ever nation under fascist attack...

no more of anyone left standing to rescue anyone else from fascistm --

Obviously, they recognize the error the made last time around!

Notice also how NOT "pro-life" this right wing agenda is --

and how lacking in any real life-affirming policies.

And agree re the Supremes ... the right wing majority seems read for a new

version of "The Nuremberg Laws" --



:(

[GeorgeGist]

11. LAND OF THE FREE ...

HOME OF THE BRAVE.

[ooglymoogly]

16. Home of the brave new world....coming to fruit in reality rather than fiction.

The state has just found a new and improved formula for SOMA, and the race of the bullies is on to be the top Alpha. 0 is a prime example.

[truedelphi]

12. We are also Number One in terms of arms sales. Italy is a distant

Second.

But we are Number One!

[tinrobot]

13. I wonder how that correlates with the rise of private prisons?

[Tx4obama]

15. Drug convictions make private prison owners rich, doesn't do anything to help folks w/addictions

and the American taxpayers are footing the bill for this nonsense.

[Amonester]

19. Another evidence of the goverment by the Rich FOR the Rich

exclusively, and at the expense of the people Right there.

[newtothegame]

17. How does this compare to population graphs for the same years? nt

[inna]

18. wow. i knew it was bad, but i didn't know it was quite that bad.

[BrklynLiberal]

20. FASCISM ANYONE? Check out # 12

http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/britt_23_2.htm

<snip>

Analysis of these seven regimes reveals fourteen common threads that link them in recognizable patterns of national behavior and abuse of power. These basic characteristics are more prevalent and intense in some regimes than in others, but they all share at least some level of similarity.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.

3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.

4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.

6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.

7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.

8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.

9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.

10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.

11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.

12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.

13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.

14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.

Does any of this ring alarm bells? Of course not. After all, this is America, officially a democracy with the rule of law, a constitution, a free press, honest elections, and a well-informed public constantly being put on guard against evils. Historical comparisons like these are just exercises in verbal gymnastics. Maybe, maybe not.

[Taitertots]

21. America is at Soviet Gulag level incarceration rates n/t

[madrchsod]

22. notice that line also relates to the de-industrialization of america?

[Richard Steele]

23. K&R

[me b zola]

34. Happy Holidays to you, RS!

I don't see you around nearly as much as I used to or would like to! Don't be a stranger :)

[Richard Steele]

43. That's nothing personal- it's because i'm not around as much as I used to or would like to be.

I'm no longer a 'kept man' posting on Paris Bruchton's
cable connection 18 hours a day.

I'm on my own, workinking a crappy min-wage job,
and living underground in an area where the ONLY
internet option is AOL DIALup.

Yes, AOL still exists- imagine my surprise.

[and-justice-for-all]

24. If it makes money...

not matter the moral implications, the USA will exploite it.

[HughBeaumont]

25. ". . . when Ronald Raygun took office, it also corresponds to a few other things."

A LOT of other things, it appears . . .

Like the number in poverty:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nSTO-vZpSgc/TJWxZhSMl4I/AAAAAAAAJWg/yEPClygRbiA/s1600/census+2010b.png

. . . or percentage of manufacturing vs total employment (granted, the de-industrialization started way before Reagan, but really declined once he got in):


. . . or wage stagnation:


. . . . which leads to household debt vs personal income to skyrocket . . .


. . . and personal savings rates to plummet . . .


. . . oh, but please forget that ONE group sure started making out like bandits once Teh Gipper (and Supply-Side economics) got installed for good . . .






. . . because THAT would be () . . . "CLASS WARFARE!!"




. . . SSSSSSHHHHHHH!!!

[forty6]

26. Great resources! Thanks! All not good news.

I want to save all this for future reference!

[cascadiance]

27. And the corporate consolidation of our media, which is why you don't routinely see these graphs now!

[HughBeaumont]

36. They had a grand plan that started during the Nixon years. This was part of it.

"The whole world is watching" became "The Whole World Is Blindfolded".

[MindandSoul]

28. Yes, Prisons are BIG business. . .brings in a lot of money for Corporate America!

[defendandprotect]

30. Soon we'll be #1 in suffering ... if we're not already there ---

[indimuse]

31. KNR! n/t

[rury]

35. What a disheartening, disgusting dubious distinction...

...but that won't stop the jingoists from bellowing on about how the United States is the "greatest country on earth!"

[HysteryDiagnosis]

37. I loved the statement made by someone in here, "you are guilty

until proven rich", I am sure Rush Limbaugh would agree with this statement.

[sarcasmo]

39. Big money in prisons. USA, USA, USA!

[Bragi]

40. This issue needs a Michael Moore documentary

Seriously, I wish he would turn his talents to the victims in America's prisons.

[Initech]

44. We should be changing our name to the U$A.

One nation under the almighty dollar.