Comments on: Correcting the so called “Corrections” system http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2010/11/08/correcting-the-so-called-corrections-system/ Life. Liberty. Property. Defending individual freedom and liberty, one post at a time. Fri, 17 May 2013 18:49:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Debbie http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2010/11/08/correcting-the-so-called-corrections-system/#comment-75334 Debbie Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:29:03 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/?p=8661#comment-75334 Wow, you’ve really been thinking about this issue. Have you delved into the history of our prison system? I think it might assist you as you clarify your ideas further.

Carl Watner of The Voluntaryist has a great article about the history. I have a short entry about the article in the link provided below and it includes a link to Carl’s original article. Maybe you want to take a look:

http://debbieandcarl.blogspot.com/2010/10/government-benefits-from-prison-slavery.html

]]> By: Chris http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2010/11/08/correcting-the-so-called-corrections-system/#comment-75230 Chris Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:08:09 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/?p=8661#comment-75230 Stephen,

Neither do I, as I’ve written here before; but there are some cases where guilt is incontrovertible; also I presume that some states will want to keep it on the table, as well as the fedgov.

]]> By: Stephen Littau http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2010/11/08/correcting-the-so-called-corrections-system/#comment-75228 Stephen Littau Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:02:49 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/?p=8661#comment-75228 Chris,

This is a very impressive post and I can see you have put a great deal of thought into the so-called corrections system, probably more than most policy makers (Sen. Webb ought to seek you out for advice on overhauling the prison system). You did a great job identifying the problems (and I agree with you 100% on your first step; attempts at reform would be futile without drug decriminalization or outright legalization) and I agree with most of your solutions (some I need to think about, a few others I disagree with).

I do have a couple of areas of disagreement though, namely “automatic” sentences (a.k.a. mandatory minimum sentences) and making more crimes eligible for the death penalty.

I don’t have much problem with setting guidelines for judges to consider (actually, that’s a very good idea so that punishments are more uniform) but I have a real problem with a one-size-fits-all approach.

As to the death penalty, if you have read anything I have written on the subject, it’s quite obvious that I’m opposed to it for a variety of reasons but mostly because I DON’T TRUST THE GOVERNMENT especially when it comes to this life and death issue. Cops lie, informants lie, witnesses lie, district attorneys/prosecutors lie; judges and juries sometimes engage in misconduct in both the guilt and penalty phases of trials. And if they do get caught? They attempt to cover it up (as Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his cohorts have done in the Cameron Todd Willingham case just to name one example).

I won’t get into the death penalty anymore here; maybe this is something we could debate in a point/counterpoint someday?

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