Private prisons and the minority vote

[MBplayer]

I am concerned we are vulnerable here, considering the disproportionate number of minorities locked up.

If you were a campaign advisor for your nominee, and he/she took money from the prison lobby, how would you address these concerns in a debate, if asked? Both Primaries and the General.

[Cheese Sandwich]

1. Bernie Sanders has called for private prisons to be abolished and receives no money from them

As far as I know.

I think that's probably best way to go on it.

But I also don't think it's a very salient issue for the campaign. Not too many people seem to care about it except for the ideological left.

In other words it won't matter in regards to votes because nobody is making a big deal about it.

[cascadiance]

3. And treating drug crimes as medical issues and not criminal issues...

... the way that alcohol is dealt with today would really help us get a lot of people out of the prison system that shouldn't be there, and take away the money that shouldn't be going to these institutions and would be better spent in other areas.

That is not only legalizing marijuana, but decriminalizing possession of other drugs too that perhaps shouldn't be legal, but shouldn't be helping us to fill our prisons with more prisoners and take more people off of our potential voting list, which I think is part of the reason that there's been a push for using drugs to be a crime, especially when those being prosecuted tend to be more people of color, etc. too. It is part of voter disenfranchisement efforts. They probably don't want the model of alcohol to be used as having those using alcohol not being criminals helps perhaps keep more of the Republican's voter base from being made criminals.

Portugal set the template of what could be accomplished if this were done...

http://mic.com/articles/110344/14-years-after-portugal-decriminalized-all-drugs-here-s-what-s-happening

[daleanime]

6. Our problems are all interconnected.....

[oasis]

2. Shake up the justice system. Lessen penalties for drug offenses.(eom)

[Maedhros]

4. The core issue is allowing profits to be made from incarcerating people.

The profit motive creates a demand for convictions, and people of color are disproportionately targeted for arrest and conviction in order to provide profit for the prison owners.

Removing the profit motive is absolutely necessary, as is reform of the justice system to address systemic racism.

[cascadiance]

5. And as I noted, it also serves as a mechanism with voter suppression...

... if those groups of color and other people more likely put in prison tend to be those that might vote for Democrats in elections too.

[Maedhros]

7. That's an important aspect that often is overlooked. [n/t]

[MBplayer]

8. Agree with 4,5,7

You can also buy publicly traded shares in two prison for profit companies. That, is screwed up.

We need to get this cancer out of the Democratic Party, somehow, someway. Financial incentive to get and keep minorities and lower-income citizens locked up is disgusting and inhumane.