California is Going Down
 

California appears to be borrowing a chapter from the former USSR's playbook. When you can't pay the bills and you can't twist anyone's arm, start releasing the criminals. Los Angeles will start with 5,000 felons from prison. Perhaps more will come later. So much for a decreasing crime rate...

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroo....html?d=182059

Re: California is Going Down
 

I see it a different way... the release is so they are not trapped in a cell!!!!!

:winksmiley02:

Re: California is Going Down
 

Maybe they will get jobs and stimulate the economy, oh wait not even non felons can get work in Cali. In fact felonies are on the rise. Maybe we should let them into another state. Or maybe we should let felons join the army.

Re: California is Going Down
 

If you study the playbook from the USSR, the crime rate will shoot up as the economy is tanking and all former police, army, navy, felons, and thieves will start impromptu security forces. I call them Thugs, Inc. They will watch your house or your neighborhood for protection money or you can hire them to accompany you for a weekend outing or to move some property.

--sjkted

Re: California is Going Down
 

A large percentage of felons are non-violent drug offenders. Drug-related crimes are on the rise as spiritually crippled people seek solace in anything they can find. Not all felons are murderers, rapists, etc. Just saying...

Re: California is Going Down
 

I agree, but the prison system trains people to be felons. In addition, when you consider how long many of these people have been out of legitimate work and the current unemployment rate in CA and the difficulty skilled, hard working honest people with degrees are having, what else is there for these people to do?

--sjkted

Re: California is Going Down
 

Would they get to wear those cool Blackwater costumes then?

Re: California is Going Down
 

From what I have been seeing in my dreams California has a lot more to worry

about then a financial crisis :zip:.

Re: California is Going Down
 

I read someplace that the USA has the highest prison population compared to other nations and that is mainly due to drug laws.

The laws are unconstitutional and need to be repealed. Like prohibition the more the government interferes with people's lives the worse things get. If we repeal the drug laws half the prisons would be closed.

Re: California is Going Down
 

Why would they close them when they are now being privatized so they can make money off people in prison? Even Cheney owns a piece of the prison action

Re: California is Going Down
 

Anything marijuana related is a joke to be in prison for. I don't smoke either to say that btw.

Re: California is Going Down
 

I watch lock up sometimes on msnbc and it is sad, because some people

who go there aren't bad people, but they come out as monsters.

Re: California is Going Down
 

Most of the phelons being released have been out on parrol and back in again for the same crime or worse!

Re: California is Going Down
 

Companies receive benefits from the government when they hire felons!

Re: California is Going Down
 

5000 convicts is not that many to choose from, hurry up and hire them before other states come here to recruit them!!!!!!!!!!! The money makers are in the fine print and earmarks of legislation. Better yet go right to jail and get the cream of the crop.

Re: California is Going Down
 

Don't worry. Even if they don't get hired, there will be cars to steal and buildings to break into. And given enough time, they will even get organized and develop some type of code of conduct and even protocols and formalities.

--sjkted

Re: California is Going Down
 

Yep. Something interesting to think about is that many of these people are doing real manufacturing in the US for around $0.50 - $1.00 per hour which is more than Chinese manufacturing makes, but still slavery here. Consider that in many cases the government is mandated to buy from prison slave labor before buying from other American companies. So long as this type of practice continues, there will no longer be any higher than minimum wage manufacturing jobs available in the real economy. If companies have been able to get away with slave wages this long, why would they change now with the economy in the trash can? This is one "benefit" for the government from the excessive drug laws.

--sjkted