The Problem of For-Profit Jails: One Disturbing Example

I have been so incredible troubled by Prison-For-Profit in this country. The United States has the most individuals per capita in jail out of any other country. At the end of 2007, there were 2,293,157 individuals in jail (see Bureau of Justice Statistics http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/prisons.htm). The prison populations has QUADRUPLED since 1980 in this country.

"The United States has the highest documented per capita rate of incarceration of any country in the world." (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisons_in_the_United_States)

"The United States incarcerates more of its youth than any other country in the world... approximately 500,000—half a million—youth are brought to detention centers in a given year." (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisons_in_the_United_States)

In this story, in a small town in Pennsylvania, judges were putting juveniles into for-profit juvenile detention programs for financial kick-backs adding up to over $2 million.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29142654/

This is what Pennsylvania tax dollars are going to? I am thoroughly disgusted and distrubed. These are the ones who got caught. How many others are there out there?

Shouldn't we be shocked? Shouldn't we be outraged?

Been a While...

Wow, it has been a while since I posted, but hey, that's what the Holidays will do! I just wanted to share a different project I've been working on - it's called Cre8 and Re-Cre8. It's a blog about making useful stuff and making stuff useful. Let me know what you think!

Wrap Rage

I went to Amazon.com today and found a messgae from Jeff Bezos right there on the front screen addressing "wrap rage". I was so excited to see that they have acknowledged this is a problem and are doing something about it. I hate these clamshell plastic packaging. I always end up cutting myself trying to get them open. It also really sucks to try to get a kid's toy out of the packaging while they are standing next to you harassing you and you have 50 million little do-dads to unravel. Not to mention the useless waste from this packaging. Now COSTCO needs to just follow suit. They are really the worst offendor.

Wow, Again

I just got back from voting. It took me about an hour and a half. I have never seen anything like it in the past 10 years when I've been at this voting location. It was just so great to see so many people out there exercising their right to vote.

And FYI... If you were wondering, my excited support for Sara Palin did not last long. I have put together a line chart to express it.