Mar 07 2009
I’m Such a Fascist
Obviously some people like to toss phrases around they don’t understand in application to people they’ve not taken the time to get to know. A delightful gentleman has decided not only that our current government has fascist leanings (not saying he is wrong or right on that) but that I am perpetrating unbiased fascism by putting forth the opinion that prisons are soft and need to be reformed to actually be punitive. Of course this means that said individual has not taken the time to read any of my other posts or he would undoubtedly realize that I am a fairly reasonable and rational person who is in favor of less government intervention or, if that isn’t possible, responsible government. That’s ok though, if it makes someone feel better to call me a fascist I don’t really mind. I’m here to let all sides be heard, after all, even those that are so completely wrong ():o)
Now to clear up an obvious misconception some have about moi. I think all people are born equal (not a fascist) however, if a person should *choose* to give up those rights by breaking a law and are sent to prison through means of a fair trial that person should be punished. I am not advocating a different set of rules for a privileged class nor am I arbitrarily saying that certain demographic groups should be punished; and I don’t mind if you criticize me, the government, or you Uncle James. As a matter of fact, my previous post is a criticism of the government’s ability to effectively run a penal institution and I am rather fond of logical dissension. Again… me = not fascist.
Further, just because I am indeed pissed off that prisoners are getting hoop time doesn’t mean I think our government is all sunshine and roses. Unfortunately, a single blog post is not the venue for a full dissertation on all the ways in which our government fucks up on a regular basis but rather serves as venue for snippets of items that piss me off, make me happy, or are simply interesting.
electricbird,
1st let me just say I am flattered to be called a “delightful gentleman”. OK, it’s a fair cop, I am delightful. But I have rather been taken out of context by your posting. I did not call you a fascist. I said “you would be happy with the fascist trends in government.” In you reply to me you said you were “going to be the happy fascist bitch queen” (you called your self fascist) so in my reply to that I commented on that being an “unabashed fascism”. By your words. Now, with the record being set straight I will continue and support what I have said.
Since you did not take exception with my characterization of government having fascist leanings but only that you do, I will speak to the later. You can find a definition of fascist here, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fascist?qsrc=2888
Do note that it references someone with “extreme right-wing views. Now, when I hear someone suggesting that just being in jail automatically puts one on a level with a “baby killer, robber or rapist”. I think of that as right-wing babble. Add to that the position in this post of not being fond of “wasting my money on appeals” it confirms my position. There are in fact many who have been found not guilty on appeal and there are in fact many who have been shown to be innocent years later due to DNA or FIOAs. Case in point Geronimo Pratt, who did 20yrs and it was shown that the FBI knew he was innocent at his trial but prosecuted him anyway. Now when someone suggests they don’t want to society to spend the money to see to it that innocent people are not incarcerated, I call that an extreme right-wing position.
Furthermore, you might want to do your homework before you write, there are prisons around the country who do grow and eat the food from the prison fields. And as for your position about their health care again you have not done your homework, I worked ER in a state hospital for 6yrs and interns did care for prisoners who were promptly transferred to the prison hospital and didn’t just sit in the ER. The interns did practice on them and I can tell you from 1st hand observation that the standard of care was pathetic.
As for prison being punitive, its the incarceration that is punitive, what happens while prisoners are incarcerated is ostensibly suppose to represent “rehabilitation”. You might notice that they let prisoners return to society on a regular basis. I would much prefer to have those returning to the general public in a mental state that facilitates their peaceful re-integration to society.
Finally, your reply that suggests that any drug crime is violent and the loose linking of any such crime with killing and child abuse, is but another reason I defined your position as fascist. Once again I would suggest you do some homework, read the Kerry Commission Report or many other well documented cases of the government importing and distributing drugs. For the government to import and distribute dope then lock people up for the same thing they are doing is the height of hypocrisy and I would suggest that those who support repressive drug laws and also claim to want less government are also being hypocritical. Did we learn nothing from prohibition? Now,if you don’t like the charictorization of you views as right wing or fascist thats not my fault, I just calls ‘em like I see’s ‘em, and if the shoe fits wear it.
Aww, yeah! Blog fight!
Jeez birdie why do you always have to go so fascist on us at today.com?
btw love the new look
You sound more authoritarian than fascist. While all fascists are authoritarian, not all authoritarians are fascist.
http://obamacomics.today.com
Im in no hurry birdy take ya time
Jason LOL, I over looked your comment… Thats f’n funny.
Todays prisons are hard. Most of the itinerary is done to keep the inmates under control. Hoop time as you call it is a necessary part of controlling inmates. Certain things such as tv, food, phys ed, haircuts, etc, are all control tools without which there will be riots. Prisons are a place that even the slighest change about anything, including tv programming, can lead to a full scale all out riot. Remember Attica? Most prison populations outnumber guards 50-1, not to good of odds. The guards and prisoners alike know the prisoners can take the place if they want too. There has to be some give and take. That’s also the same reason they let drugs in to these places.
ndefence,
Beautiful point, I’m almost ashamed I overlooked that, it’s huge.