tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post3426648512175981474..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: A Texas Moratorium Too?Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-862929971791079192007-10-02T23:57:00.000-05:002007-10-02T23:57:00.000-05:00It seems that Texas is now in the midst of a de fa...It seems that Texas is now in the midst of a <A HREF="http://stopexecutions.blogspot.com/2007/10/and-after-405th-texas-execution-there.html" REL="nofollow">de facto moratorium on executions</A>.<BR/><BR/>It would make sense if Texas would use this time out on executions to examine the entire death penalty system in Texas and not just the question of lethal injections as a method of execution. We particularly need to decide whether there are sufficient safeguards in place to prevent the execution of innocent people and to ensure that everyone has competent representation. The best way to ensure that everyone on trial for their lives has competent representation is to establish a statewide Office of Public Defenders for Capital Cases.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-15429807192462332112007-10-02T07:05:00.000-05:002007-10-02T07:05:00.000-05:00the cca makes me ashamed to be a texan. i'm claim...the cca makes me ashamed to be a texan. i'm claiming to be from oklahoma, if anyone asks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-31926209276516798832007-10-01T06:51:00.000-05:002007-10-01T06:51:00.000-05:00The truth is most voters are more concerned on an ...The truth is most voters are more concerned on an everyday basis with whether there are brownies for dessert than about politics. Ignorant people get to vote, too. Perhaps I should have said ex-prisoners should <I>read Grits</I> and vote!Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-52628753768646938912007-10-01T00:56:00.000-05:002007-10-01T00:56:00.000-05:00Even if you give all people over 18 the vote, unle...Even if you give all people over 18 the vote, unless you make them use it, you may still not get the government that the educated people want.<BR/><BR/> Texas inmate makes good points, very few inmates have any idea or interest in anything past what's for the next meal and if there will be any candy left by the time they get to the store window. But it that really all their fault, or is it another of TDCJ's failings that no one is really showing inmates that there IS another world out there that they could be part of if they chose to be?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-84285464943460898562007-09-30T23:31:00.000-05:002007-09-30T23:31:00.000-05:00Abolish the death penalty and allow every citizen ...Abolish the death penalty and allow every citizen that is of age to vote!<BR/><BR/>Candidates and the government can make information available to prisoners so they can cast their vote as they see fit.<BR/><BR/>The case presented against the idea of prisoners voting does not hold water. People with no education and a low IQ vote in this democracy.<BR/><BR/>Denying the vote to the incarcerated is punishment pure and simple.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4716688427228091172007-09-30T17:48:00.000-05:002007-09-30T17:48:00.000-05:00This clown talks a big game uses big words.If the ...This clown talks a big game uses big words.If the people really seen what happens in class they will be sick.And the Harris Co. DA race, his name is not Bradshaw.This is another clown that thinks he above the Law.He can not even run his crime lab.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-10139014661080298062007-09-30T16:52:00.000-05:002007-09-30T16:52:00.000-05:00A Letter to Scott(from prisonproxy.blogspot.com)I ...A Letter to Scott<BR/>(from prisonproxy.blogspot.com)<BR/><BR/>I implore you, my dear readers, to read Scott Henson’s blog on Texas criminal justice politics and practices at www.gritsforbreakfast.org. I just enjoyed his article, “What did the 80th Texas Legislature do on prisoner issues?” in the August 17th issue of The San Antonio Current. I agree with nearly all of the issues he brought up, save one—the voting issue.<BR/><BR/>You know, Scott, P-Diddy ran that Vote or Die campaign daring everyone to vote, and I’m continually hearing all this banter about prisoner disenfranchisement and how ex-cons, and even prisoners, should be allowed, and told, to vote. Look, our Democratic ideal of “for the people, by the people” instructs us to pay heed to the votes of all people, even the constituency of exhibitionist masturbators, which is what 7 out of 10 prisoners under the age of 40 would be in. And I respect that, I really do, because if Big Brother were to disenfranchise these guys, then there’s no telling where he’d stop.<BR/><BR/>But let me clarify something. I’m a Texas prisoner, and I’m reporting in (almost) real time from the battlefield, and in a very objective manner! I’m going to tell you why an ex-con constituency will be inherently ill-informed.<BR/><BR/>The vast majority of prisoners are not only physically imprisoned, but also mentally imprisoned. Very few are aware of, much less care about, current events out there in the “free world” (which is NOT the prison world). No, the concerns are:<BR/><BR/>“Is she good?”<BR/>“Who’s on F-wing?”<BR/>“I hope they have brownies for dessert”<BR/>“Are they running recreation?”<BR/><BR/>And things of that sort, day in day out, year in year out. There is the TV—the window to the world—but that’s on Maury Povic and Jerry Springer everyday. People who watch Jerry Springer can’t make rational votes. Those two activities are mutually exclusive! True, a few get papers and financial/political/news magazines, but they’re statistically insignificant, as are those who go to college here.<BR/><BR/>Scott, you write, “so register and vote, or do so as soon as you’re off paper.” But that’s sorely lacking. How about adding, “and become familiar with the issues”? Anything less would be akin to an infant being born and immediately going to vote. Such a vote would obviously be intellectually dilutive to the voting pool. Focus on reintegrating and educating before instigating to go shit out a vote.<BR/><BR/>Look, I like Rick Perry and his hardliner hordes about as much as you do, but take it from me, our ideological sled of rationality isn’t going to be pulled into an era of self-actualization by a bloc of ill-informed ex-cons. Just be patient. The Democratic insurrection in Dallas’s judiciary will be followed by one in Houston when Bradshaw beats Rosenthal in the run for Chief D.A. This is the beginning of a new paradigm (and I’m no Democrat, mind you. I’m a staunch moderate, as paradoxical as that sounds). I appreciate the light you’re shining on the atrocity known as the TDC, but as far as all prisoners needing to vote and what not, back up, Scott, you’re playing with fire.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com