Why We Must Fix Our Prisons

America's criminal justice system has deteriorated to the point that it is a national disgrace. Its irregularities and inequities cut against the notion that we are a society founded on fundamental fairness. Our failure to address this problem has caused the nation's prisons to burst their seams with massive overcrowding. In 1984, Japan had a population half the size of ours and was incarcerating 40,000 sentenced offenders, compared with 580,000 in the United States. As shocking as that disparity was, the difference between the countries now is even more astounding--and profoundly disturbing. Since then, Japan's prison population has not quite doubled to 71,000, while ours has quadrupled to 2.3 million.

Our overcrowded, ill-managed prison systems are places of violence, physical abuse, and hate, making them breeding grounds that perpetuate and magnify the same types of behavior we purport to fear. Post-incarceration re-entry programs are haphazard or, in some places, nonexistent, making it more difficult for former offenders who wish to overcome the stigma of having done prison time and become full, contributing members of society. Over the past two decades, we have been incarcerating more and more people for nonviolent crimes and for acts that are driven by mental illness or drug dependence. Against this backdrop of chaos and mismanagement, a dangerous form of organized and sometimes deadly gang activity has infiltrated America's towns and cities. It comes largely from our country's southern border, and much of the criminal activity centers around the movement of illegal drugs.

In short, we are not protecting our citizens from the increasing danger of criminals who perpetrate violence and intimidation as a way of life, and we are locking up too many people who do not belong in jail.

The system should be changed to where only violent crimes should cause people to be arrested. they should create more help and support groups for other problems such as drug abuse and alcohol abuse to reduce the population of the prisons.

Jonestown

Jonestown can be considered a cult for many reasons. The People’s Temple first began in Indiana where Jim Jones had lived. He made an inter-racial church which was not quite a mainstream thing at the time. Any person that believed that the African Americans and Caucasians should be separated were kicked out of The People’s Temple. Jim Jones made many of his followers believe that society was evil. In San Francisco the People’s Temple that was located there had caught on fire and Jim Jones made a statement telling all members that society did this to their temple and that they didn’t want them there.
The People’s Temple moved many places in its time. Such places as Ukiah, San Francisco, and even to Guyana in Africa. As they first moved from Indiana to Ukiah Jim Jones told his followers to sell off all valuables and even their homes and to give all their money to support the church. In doing so they had made themselves dependent on the church for all necessities needed by these people.
When Jim first began his church he had claimed himself to his followers as part of divine power. He faked healings of his members to make them believe they were following someone that came from the heavens. He said in one of his quotes “If you want me to your friend I’ll be your friend, if you want me to be your father I’ll be your father, if you want to be your god I’ll be your god.” This one quote tells how he accepted that people thought of him as this divine power. Jim Jones separated himself and his followers from society by moving them to Guyana. In truth he had moved them so that he could not be stopped by the government because of ex-members that had told of their mistreatment with Jones.

Survey sees a drift away from religion in America

Americans are slipping and not becoming part of a new faith but becoming part of no faith at all. 

Today, there has been a 10% drop in Americans who recognize themselves as Christians since 1990. 15% chose "no religion" as an answer to the survey. In the Roman Catholic stronghold in New England their adherents dropped by one million since 1990 to 2008. Catholics dropped from 50% to 36%. 

The "no religion" group has gained 20 million adults since 1990 and the only group to grow in every state. The nones make up almost half of the population in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. 

The Christian population did grow 22 million but they were nondenominational Christians. In the ARIS survey little less than 70% "definitely believe in a personal god" and 12% "believe in a higher power but no personal god." The "no religion" group consist of mostly males.  

Now that many are being raised outside of religious houses Dr. Kosmin asks,"What does this mean for religious institutions?"

Dalai Lama: Tibetans 'suffering' under China

The Dalai Lama believes that for the past fifty years the Tibetans have suffered under Chinese rule. In a speech he spoke marking fifty years he told of how he and others are like criminals deserving to be put to death. 

The Chinese deny all accusations and say the speech is all lies. The Dalai Lama says that years of Chinese experiments have led to hundreds of thousands of deaths of Tibetans. 

The Dalai Lama told reporters that the exile of 100,000 Tibetans to India was the only way to preserve their heritage. After his speech Tibetans took the streets wanting the Chinese out of Tibet. March 10 marked the fifty years since the Dalai Lama's exile to the Himalayas and the riots in Tibet took place.

I believe the Tibetans should be left alone. I don't understand why the Chinese even exiled the Dalai Lama. The Chinese should allow the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet and give the Tibetans back their home. Though it will not happen because the Chinese feel threaten by them.

Obama: Tax Cuts Should Take Effect By April 1

It took only a matter of weeks for the notoriously slow Congress to pass the $787 billion economic stimulus package. President Barack Obama signed it into law less than one month into his presidency. So when should people hope to start seeing the benefits of tax cuts in it?
By April 1, according to the president. Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans. Treasury Department has begun directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes withheld from people's paychecks in accordance with the new law, and that in six weeks, a typical family will start taking home at least $65 more every month. Obama says his signature "Making Work Pay" tax break will affect 95 percent of working families. The $400 credit for individuals is to be doled out through the rest of the year. Couples are slated to get up to $800. Most workers are to see about a $13 per week increase in their take-home pay. In 2010, the credit would be about $7.70 a week, if it is spread over the entire year. People who do not earn enough money to owe income taxes are eligible for the credit, an attempt to offset the payroll taxes they pay. Obama's expensive and ambitious package of federal spending and tax cuts is designed to revive the economy and save or create 3.5 million or more jobs. It will inject a sudden boost of cash into transportation, education, energy and health care, while aiming to help recession victims through tax cuts, extended unemployment benefits and short-term health insurance assistance. It also will add to a rapidly growing national debt.

EU Leaders Back Sweeping Financial Regulations

European leaders backed sweeping new regulations for financial markets and hedge funds at a summit Sunday in Berlin as politicians and nations scrambled to tame the global economic crisis. All financial markets, products and participants including hedge funds and other private pools of capital which may pose a systematic risk must be subjected to appropriate oversight or regulation. Top officials from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands and Czech Republic agreed on seven key points. A clear message and concrete action are necessary to engender new confidence in the markets and to put the world back on a path toward more growth and employment. European leaders backed Merkel's call for a "charter of sustainable economic activity" to reduce economic imbalances and stabilize financial markets. The charter would subject all financial market activities around the globe to regulation, including credit rating agencies. Merkel said the charter would be "based on market forces but prevent excess and ultimately lead to the establishment of a global governance structure." Other key points included adopting sanctions to safeguard against tax havens and urging banks to keep larger reserves of capital. Officials said a final copy of the summit agreement would not be circulated Sunday, in order to allow European Union members not present to view it first.

Pakistan to Fight Terror By Arming Militias

A Pakistani border region struggling against Taliban and al-Qaeda militants will distribute 30,000 rifles to villagers in hopes that local militias can help the provincial government regain control. Province came after Pakistan's government announced a seemingly conflicting deal in the Swat Valley — a Taliban stronghold within the province — to impose Islamic law if the extremists stop fighting. Similar village militias, backed by the United States, have been credited with reducing violence in Iraq, and a comparable initiative is under way in Afghanistan. Officials would consult with local police before handing out the arms and would take them back if they were not used against terrorists and troublemakers. It did not say when the weapons would be handed out, or if villagers would be armed in the Swat valley, where security forces and Taliban militants are observing a week-old cease-fire while seeking a peace accord.

Australians Flee New Wildfire Flare-Ups

Scores of people fled their homes in southern Australia on Monday fearing that rising temperatures and strong winds could fan blazes burning in forests into unstoppable firestorms. Tensions were high in Victoria, where devastating fires swept a vast area of the state on Feb. 7, destroying more than 1,800 homes and killing more than 200 people in the country's worst fire disaster. Some of the blazes have been burning for weeks in the state, though all fires were being contained in unpopulated areas by firefighters. Residents were warned to either leave early or prepare themselves to fight the fires. The conditions were on Feb. 7, when record temperatures of around 117 F (47 C) and 60-mph (100-kph) winds created what officials have dubbed "Black Saturday." Some 7,500 people were displaced by the fires, and some entire towns lie in ruins. Some sites remain sealed off by police as they search for bodies and evidence of arson. One man has been charged with starting one of the deadly fires, and arson is suspected in at least one other. The confirmed death toll stands at 209 and is expected to rise as more remains are identified from the ruins.

Corruption Undermines Vietnam's Stimulus Program

As governments around the world roll out trillions of dollars in stimulus spending to combat the global recession, debate is raging over whether the flood of money will provide much more than a short-term economic boost and whether much of the cash will ultimately be wasted. With the number of poor growing and reports of some going hungry, communist officials in Hanoi recently decided to hand out $12 to millions of impoverished Vietnamese. It appears that many of the cash handouts were pocketed by corrupt local officials. In some cases, fees were deducted or the gifts were taxed to the point there was little left, according to local police. Families in Quang Binh province complained that they were required to sign receipts acknowledging they had received the handouts, but some villagers say more than 90% of the funds were siphoned off by petty bureaucrats. Under the unusual giveaway, Vietnamese living below the poverty line (defined by the government as those earning less than $15 a month) qualified to receive a gift of 200,000 Vietnamese dong, or about $12. Families were entitled to a maximum of $57. Though it may seem a paltry sum, the cash was a windfall for Vietnam's 10 million poorest. But Hanoi on its own can't change the course of global events.

Israel: No Cease-fire Until Soldier Returns

Top Israeli Cabinet ministers Wednesday set a series of tough conditions for accepting a proposed cease fire in Hamas, saying there would be no deal until the Islamic militant group releases a captured Israeli soldier. The unanimous decision by the 11-member Security Cabinet was likely to set back Egyptian efforts to broker a long-term truce. There was no immediate reaction from Egypt or Hamas. Israel has been demanding an end to Hamas rocket attacks and arms smuggling and the freedom of Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was captured in a cross-border raid in June 2006. Hamas wants an end to Israel's devastating economic blockade of Gaza, including the opening of its border crossings. In their decision, the ministers said there could be no deal on the borders before Schalit comes home safely. Hamas wants hundreds of Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for the captured soldier, including some convicted of participating in or planning some of the bloodiest Palestinian attacks against Israel. The prospect of notorious killers going free has provoked heated debate in Israel and could delay the deal as the government sifts through the list of prisoners Hamas wants freed.

3.5 Million Jobs

Congress has put together a $789 million dollar stimulus package to help the economy. The plan will is suppose to create 3.5 million jobs. The new plan will provide aid of states, tax cuts for the "middle class", and money for building infrastructure. But most do not take into consideration the fact that we are already losing jobs. A total of 3.5 million people will be out of work and by this time the stimulus package would not be in affect. So this $789 million dollars will go to supporting the unemployed. The stimulus package requires economists who believe unemployment is moving toward 9% to subtract jobs faster than the government is creating them. Many believe that the stimulus package is a lie to give people false hope.