The Issues: Private Prisons, The New Slavery? [View all]

[rhett o rick]

Are private prisoners the new slaves of the USA?
A new form of slavery is running strong in the United States.

With only 5 percent of the total global population, the United States holds approximately 25 percent of the entire global prison population.

China has a half million fewer prisoners than the United States, despite a population five times larger than the United States. In total, 2.2 million people are currently in U.S. prisons or jails.

Inside U.S. prisons, inmates reportedly produce 93% of U.S. paints and paintbrushes, 92% of U.S. stove assemblies, 100% of military helmets, and more, including products for companies including IBM, Boeing, Motorola, Microsoft, AT&T, Dell, Compaq, and Nordstrom’s.

While the U.S. violent crime rate has fallen drastically in the past thirty years, U.S. prisons and jails have had a 500% increase in population, thanks in large part to the efforts of private prison corporations. In the past decade alone, Geo Group and CCA spent over $45 million on political campaign contributions. By 2009, private prisons accounted for 8% of all prisoners housed in the United States. In 2011 alone, the two largest private prison corporations – The Geo Group and Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) – earned over $3 billion.
http://wearechange.org/private-prisoners-new-slaves-usa/

Do you support private prisons? Does your candidate?

Private Prison Lobbyists Are Raising Cash for Hillary Clinton
As immigration and incarceration issues become central to the 2016 presidential campaign, lobbyists for two major prison companies are serving as top fundraisers for Hillary Clinton.

Richard Sullivan, of the lobbying firm Capitol Counsel, is a bundler for the Clinton campaign, bringing in $44,859 in contributions in a few short months. Sullivan is also a registered lobbyist for the Geo Group, a company that operates a number of jails, including immigrant detention centers, for profit.

Hillary Clinton has a complicated history with incarceration. As first lady, she championed efforts to get tough on crime. “We need more police, we need more and tougher prison sentences for repeat offenders,” Clinton said in 1994. “The ‘three strikes and you’re out’ for violent offenders has to be part of the plan. We need more prisons to keep violent offenders for as long as it takes to keep them off the streets,” she added.
https://theintercept.com/2015/07/23/private-prison-lobbyists-raising-cash-hillary-clinton/

The overly tough stand on crime by conservatives starting with Reagan and continuing thru today has seen prison populations skyrocket. This has had a devastating effect on the lower 99%. The cost, both personal and financial is tremendous and disproportionally affects People of Color. There is nothing to suggest that H. Clinton (known for being very tough on crime) will do anything to turn around this terrible trend.

Our exceptionally high prison population is indicative that our democracy is failing.

We need to elect a true Progressive that has always fought for democracy and fairness for all Americans. We need to elect Senator Bernie Sanders.