tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post6103699926237375865..comments2024-03-15T05:45:01.402-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Half million Texans disenfranchised from voting in primary elections: Harms democracy and public safetyGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-17455062862165695212008-03-07T07:53:00.000-06:002008-03-07T07:53:00.000-06:00Sorry kaptinemo - it just isn't gonna happen. They...Sorry kaptinemo - it just isn't gonna happen. They use proven violent offenders as leverage for tax hikes. At least they do in Oregon. All the newscasters comment about not enough money to keep sex offenders, murderers and gang members safe in prison whenever a funding measure is being proposed. Why would they let out all the drug offenders? That would imply that they didn't belong there in the first place.JT Barriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15571868033521182864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-46464758354955958502008-03-07T06:35:00.000-06:002008-03-07T06:35:00.000-06:00As usual, behind it all is the economics of the si...As usual, behind it all is the economics of the situation. The DrugWar was a drain on revenues long before the Global War on Terror was begun. (the only people profiting were the ones running prison industries, and that because they were effectively subsidized by the taxpayer, as they're not paying all the costs involved in incarceration, such as legal liabilities). <BR/><BR/>Now, it's even more of a drain, at a time during a serious economic downturn that is beginning to look like the mid- to late-1970's, all over again. The money to run the DrugWar, the prime engine for incarceration in this country, is running out. And that means many non-violent offenders who are now in prison will have to be let out in order to keep the proven violent ones in. And that means returning the non-violent ones to society...and giving them a reason to have a stake in that society, lest they decide they have been so ostracized, they choose to make their anger known in much more destructive ways. Returning voting rights after serving time is a great way to avoid that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4587756281372345832008-03-06T17:14:00.000-06:002008-03-06T17:14:00.000-06:00I would think when the Legislators begin to work a...I would think when the Legislators begin to work again, well some of work all the time and others only when they are in Austin,all pens should be removed from Mr. Perry's office. That would stop him from vetoing good bills and let them pass without his signature. He vetoed some very good bills last term, some written by Rep. Jerry Madden and Senator Whitmire that would have helped ease the prison crisis.<BR/><BR/>Do not believe there is not a crises, there is. When you have more visitor's cars in the parking lot than employee cars, that poses a big problem. <BR/><BR/>Prisons are over full and some are having to sleep in the day rooms with no way they can sleep at all. Most work the next day and have to be at work early and get no rest. I do not believe sleep depreviation is part of anyone's sentence, yet this is happening. <BR/><BR/>So, designate someone to remove all the pens from Gov. Perry and don't give him a crayon, he will use that also, and maybe we can pass some bills that will help get Texas out of the financial mess we are in due to so many being in prison and do not belong there. Thousands have been paroled, but the BPP set a date later than a few days after they are granted parole and many think this is because of a certain job they are doing for the prison.<BR/><BR/>Reduce prison crowding and hire people who would work, but need enough money to support their family and you won't have as many problems. There is a reported 4,000 open jobs in TDCJ, but I would guess this is an understatement, if the truth were told, there are more openings than 4,000. Also, stop dieseling Inmates, when the prisons get full, some are loaded in buses and moved around until the count is over and then taken back where they were previously housed. That is both a disgrace and dishonest. Someone get a grip on the BPP and TDCJ and get some of the people who have been paroled out and home with their families!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-85076480703536517172008-03-06T13:43:00.000-06:002008-03-06T13:43:00.000-06:00Since you are talking about voting, I have a tidbi...Since you are talking about voting, I have a tidbit of news to share with all of you. This news came to me from a reliable source in the news area, Mr. John Coles campaign money at least $40,000.00 to $75,000.00 came from gambling interests. Now are we not glad an honest man won his seat again. <BR/><BR/>Talk about special interests, this is the top of special interests and some of the wealthy have wanted gambling in Texas for many years. <BR/><BR/>I just thought I might share this tidbit with some of you who thought you knew who you were really voting for when you voted for Cole against an honest man who works for us and not special interests.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-62888520356406187542008-03-06T12:46:00.000-06:002008-03-06T12:46:00.000-06:00"On a brighter note the U.S. still beats living in..."On a brighter note the U.S. still beats living in Russia."<BR/><BR/>Except they imprison a lot higher percentage of their population. Today, we run the gulags.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-20191765836492459482008-03-06T10:54:00.000-06:002008-03-06T10:54:00.000-06:00Every citizen of age should vote, period.Hooray fo...Every citizen of age should vote, period.<BR/><BR/>Hooray for Main and Vermont!<BR/><BR/>Does the ACLU work to obtain the vote for felons, in or out of prison?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-6178903870779909692008-03-06T10:14:00.000-06:002008-03-06T10:14:00.000-06:00I wonder if taking voting rights from felons is Co...I wonder if taking voting rights from felons is Constitutional. Again are felons some of the people mentioned in the U.S. Constitution? Coupled with the no taxation without representation does the loss of voting rights for felons mean they no longer are subject to any government tax? Interpretation of our Constitution is in the hands of people so far removed from the average citizen it is hard for us average people to understand.<BR/><BR/>For a long time I have come to see the name of our country as a lie. There are many classes of people excluded from the “United” States. Fragmenting society makes it easier to control. If the people were truly united in this country, un-convicted felons who run this country would be out of a job! I bet there are more than a few of our elected officials who have committed felony crimes. There are so many felonies to choose from many may not know they have committed a crime.<BR/><BR/>On a brighter note the U.S. still beats living in Russia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com