John Oliver Calls Out America's Racist, Broken Prison System: 'We Are Doing A Terrible Job'

[kpete]

One of the things I like about Oliver's new show is that he's taking on issues that rarely get any any attention --- anywhere. And because he has the time to really dig in, he's able to make them entertaining and informative.

Our prison system is an atrocity, it truly is. The numbers of prisoners alone should ring alarm bells with anyone who has a sense of justice. In fact, it's so bad and the problems so huge that it seems overwhelming. But we have to do something about this and oddly enough there may even be some help from the far right on it. There's always a chance that these civil liberties and criminal justice issues have a small overlap there that could make a difference.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-horror-of-americas-prisons-in-20.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/21/john-oliver-broken-prison-system-last-week-tonight_n_5605366.html

[daleanime]

1. Kick....

[Skittles]

2. love Mr. Oliver

he's doing a fantastic job

[Mnemosyne]

3. That was very good, well stated. nt

[DeSwiss]

4. Time to end this shit.

- K&R

[proReality]

5. I'm thrilled he got his own show! n/t

[Uncle Joe]

6. That was most excellent, John Oliver is rapdily becoming one of my favorites.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[pam4water]

7. Big K&R

[RainDog]

8. I'm glad he's focusing attention on this issue

Privatization's worst aspects are clearly visible among those who society cares the least about...those harms exist across society, but are most apparent when people think others have no rights to be treated humanely - which is America's largely unspoken view of anyone in prison, no matter the situation.

Laws passed in the Reagan era brought us to this point.

Anyone who thinks it's coincidence that African Americans are targeted in either naive or deluded.

[JDPriestly]

9. K&R. Well done. Thanks for posting this.

[conservaphobe]

10. This was AWESOME.

K and EFFING R!

[questionseverything]

11. only the court jester is allowed to tell the truth

the part oliver did not touch on was these prisons also provide slave labor

overall an excellent presentation