Are Americans "the most evil people on earth?"

Senator James Webb, DEMOCRAT from Virginia.

Well, there's your problem........

Aha, that's the problem, not the fact that "with 5 percent of the world's population, America houses nearly 25 percent of the world's prisoners."

So, what would you suggest??........

Letting them all go free??

No...just decriminalize weed and BAM...you keep the real prisoners and let NO REAL PRISONER GO FREE>

I meant Criminal

What will we do with all the potheads then, David??......

David,

Even that reasoning does not work when I know about 2 cases where the African American users of herb were imprisoned  --  for YEARS, while their White buddies got probation.   The same, exact crime, but different time. 

Webb wants to know if Americans are the most evil -- or rather -- the evilest people on earth, does he.  I believe that Senator Webb very well knows the answer to that question if his meter is the ratio of Americans imprisoned, compared with the rest of the world. 

Any African American in this country who is not aware, and/or has not been touched by the gross injustices and bias of the American judicial system against African Americans, in........this..........country has been, and is comatose.  We, all of us, either knows someone or have ourselves, been imprisoned for a crime, or crimes that we did not commit, could in no way have committed; Webb knows this. 

So you are saying that Webb reasons,

"Either we're the most evil people on earth, or we're doing something wrong,"   No one really believes that something -- the water or the air here -- causes us to be the evilest, do they?

Thanks to DNA innocent people are being let out of prison in my state. In the past 6 months 4 people were set free after proven innocent by DNA testing. Three were convicted of rape and spent from three years to 20 years in prison, one was convicted for murder he didn't commit and was released after 11 years thanks to DNA evidence. All were black and were young and had futures.

This also put an extra burden on taxpayers because all these innocent people are awarded millions for false prosecution.

Cops nationwide are also bias and bigoted and are well known for planting evidence to get an arrest on their record, prosecutors do not care about justice its a conviction they need to move up the ladder.

Corporate prisons are a scourge to America and should be abolished.

A real uniform justice system does not exist in America, money determines innocence or guilt and if a person cannot hire a wealthy lawyer the public defender just flushes the client down the toilet.

Obama has proven we are a people that are willing to sweep the rule of law under the carpet.

Keith if this is how it should be tell me why Bush and his gang are still roaming free?

You also could explain why judges are taking payoffs to send innocent teenagers to corporate prisons?

Its not if you do the crime, its if you have money to buy your way out.

No, we are not the most evil people on earth.  There are good and bad people everywhere.  Our biggest problem, however, is the amount of "freedom" we have.  Americans believe that unlimited freedom is a good thing; it is not.  Too much of anything is not good.  There must be limitations for the good of society.  We are paying the price for this overabundance of so-called freedom.

There's a difference between freedom and being out of control. Freedom assumes responsibility, and THAT is the anemia this suffers from. Restrictions may be necessary for the immature, but I think the long-term solution to America's problems lies in responsibility.

people are people

Yes, and a rock is a rock.

I guess we could just chop of their heads or hands instead of imprisoning them... it's done in other parts of the world. 

Have you ever watched "Locked Up"?  It's one of those documentary shows.  I'm always amazed when they interview people that WANT to be in prison or commit crimes so they can go back to prison.  I know these cases are oddities, but it really sheds light on one problem (of many problems!) within our system.

They don't try to get back in the prison system because it was so much fun, Tammy. It likely has much more to do with the lack of rehabilitation, lack of community outreach, and society's lack of willingness to consider an ex-convict's debt as paid.

Savo: This is a good post. I don't think Americans are evil; in fact, America is a generous country, a country with many dedicated professionals in a wide and varied range of fields. The prison population in this country is a disgrace and is the result of neo-rightest governments that America has suffered through over the last thirty years or so beginning with Ronal Regan. and the absolutely idiotic, so called "war on drugs". I agree, the prison population is largely comprised of minority groups in this country and that continues to be a simmering problems. In addition, mentally ill person have been placed in prison populations because of a lack of money for proper treatment and care. This country is paying a huge price to satisfy a small group of neo-conservatives.

I would tend to disagree with Thomas that the problem is too much freedom; I think the problem could likely be too many restrictions on our freedoms.  Over the last eight years, our civil liberties as a people have been comprised and our Bill of Rights and constitutional government have been endangered.

Perhaps, it is time to free the "potheads" and lock up the real criminals who just got booted out of D.C. by the American people and the creeps on Wall Street who stole the people's money.

I worked in a prison and the inmate population was almost equally divided between black and white inmates and a mixture of first time non-violent offenders and old lifers. Some of the old guys were serving time for offenses that they would've been given a much lighter sentence by today's standards, but they were too poor to get a case review.

One guy I'll remember is one who was about my age at the time (in our mid-thirties). He had been locked up since he was about 22. He got 7 years for burglarly and 20 for a joint in his pocket. No money to get his case looked at either, but he was close to parole. Had spent his time incarcerated to learn several languages and would be the first to admit he'd done something stupid as a young man, but 20 years for a joint was just insane.

I can't say Americans are evil. Many of the inmates I worked with were regular guys who screwed up. When I first began my job, some of them took the time to point out the sex offenders who were locked up. Now if these "bad guys" had standards, that sort of shows we're not evil as a people.

Keith why don't you try a voluntary stint in gitmo at the waterboarding section and see how good life is in prison, especially for the innocent people that have done nothing wrong.

Gitmo is the ultimate proof of what any person suffers under the no justice system that prevails in America.

Keith, that isn't true. Prisons vary. The one I worked in had no cable tv, no AC, remdial education 3 times a week, movie night once a week, and some of them lived in corrogated steel dorms.

The inmates did their own laundry at their own expense. They were charged for any medical appoints and the on site hospital was not a place you'd want to go, especially to die.

sad thing is most crime in the usa goes unpunished :(

Crime in America goes unpunished because American officials at all levels of government are corrupted with greed and power.

Drug dealers are left on the streets with the excuse they are used as informants while the real reason is they are paying off the cops, the first step in the justice system.

The war on drugs is a lucrative scam, better than the blood for oil wars we start.

We aren't the most evil, but we sure as hell are doing something wrong! One thing was already mentioned above, this country's war on drugs; release all the NON- VIOLENT drug offenders in this nation's prisons- and see how much room is made. BY making criminals out of people who are non violent, we only increase other kinds of crimes

That's alot of druggies. Tell me - other than for medical reasons, exactly why do so many people screw their brains with chemicals? What exactly is the drive to make of oneself a dependent blob?

That's not to say I favor incarceration - I don't.

Alcohol is as bad as marijuana, yet people go to jail for possession or use of marijuana...

Alcohol also makes brains mush. I don't favor incarceration for any of it (except for crimes committed under the influence - e.g., dui). My question stands: "...exactly why do so many people screw their brains with chemicals? What exactly is the drive to make of oneself a dependent blob?"

Although cutting off hands and feet might work, there are other options. Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan all have an incarceration rater one sixth to one tenth of what it is in America. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Incarceration_rates_worldwide.gif

The U.S. is also the only one of those that has the death penalty. So the people in prisons in those countries includes those Americans put to death (and are therefore probably not counted in America).

I know enough Americans to know that they are not "the most evil people on Earth". But they tended to be more guided by ideology than practical results. This is one example.

Excellent post, Savo.

What is "evil?"  Is it evil to lock a person in jail for a crime or is it evil to simply chop off his hand, (or his head) and let him go (or burry him)?  When you look around the world that is what a lot of nations with large populations do.

You also have to consider the implications of incarceration for minor drug offenses, that will definitely raise the numbers significantly.

I can't reply right under your comment steve, so hopefully you see this. I don't think anyone has the drive or desire to make themselves a dependant blob, some people just end up getting hooked on drugs; for whatever reasons- and some can't function- or function as well once that happens. And the comment about alcohol is correct, that can cause damage to someone's brain, (among other bodily organs and systems) but we don't send people to jail or prison for alcohol use alone. I just can't see locking up someone who is non violent, especially the way it's done now; there's been drug offenders given longer sentences than child molesters or rapists.

Your right about the alcohol Ellen but the fact is that the whole system of what chemical is good or bad relies on revenue not if the substance is good for you or bad for you.

Our own CIA is the biggest drug dealer in the world.

Ellen, I fully agree with your comment!

Jack, if the governments around the world can design a system where they can tax the production and sale of marijuana, I believe many would legalize it...

Exactly! too many of those in authority making money off the illegal trade, yet people still believe all the propaganda of why drugs are illegal.

Savo  marijuana will never be legalised because it is to easy to grow and put into the black market system.

Even to keep excessive taxes on alcohol government spends billions on tracking down bootleggers and their "evil stills."

Taxation without representation creates a flood of black market illegal activities.

Ellen. I saw your comment - I hope you see this one. I might rephrase my question. But the fact is that one cannot give a damn about oneself or anything/body else and use drugs, alcohol, tobacco (or any number of obsessive, excessive behavior, e.g., gambling, sex, food) - they are incompatible. What sabotages people's ability to give a damn?

I do believe so. The fact that we may more prisons than other countries is not a result of Americans being more evil than the citizens of other nations. First there are reasons other countries have fewer prisons, take for instance many Arab countries execute criminals at the drop of a hat, they even turn a blind eye to the murder of victims such as rape. Countries such as China call their prisons work or re-education camps.

True evil is strapping a bomb to yourself or to a child or woman and then sending them to blow themselves up along with as many innocents as possible. That is real evil.

I meant to say I do not believe so.

We incarcerate so many people partly because many prisons have been privatized and it is a growth industry. Anything in the name of Capitalism!  Forget about GITMO...just send Keith C. to the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona for a month or so if he thinks prisoners have it soft...LOL

Evil = ungodly.  Ungodly = materialistic.  We are one of the most materialistic nations on earth.  Go figure.

I have somewhat of an opposite opinion than Thomas.  "Evil" does NOT equal "ungodly".  I am an atheist as are many in my circle of family and friends and none of us have been convicted or jailed for any crimes. 

Quite the opposite I believe contributes to this crazed incarceration here in the states.  Our country has a very 'un-godly' attidude towards people.  Or, should I say the kind of religious dogma prevails that emphasizes patriachal swift and strict punishment if one wavers from total obedience.  How 'un-Jesus-like' is that?  No forgiveness, no second chances, major support for torture and the death penalty.  If you speak of reform and rehabiliation, you are branded a socialist/communist/libral freak.  Unbelievable. 

It's the industrialized countries that are the least religious and most socialist that have some of the lowest incarceration rates, and even with violent offenders tend to have smaller prison sentences and lots of humane treatment and focus on rehabilitation. 

Thomas is just repeating the dogma of whatever religion that's been force fed to him...

"What kind of response is that?  Ridiculous.   It's like going to the doctor complaining about a broken leg, and the doctor looks at you and says, "Would you rather have a broken back?  Or a broken neck?"  Makes about as much sense."

Some people are naturally dull-minded, but you seem to make an extra special effort to be an idiot.  The title of the article is:  "Are Americans "the most evil people on earth?"

I made an appropriate response to the article by saying, "

Would you rather live in Iran?  Or North Korea?  How about South Africa?"

Just out of curiosity, is English a second language for you?

For a country that's suppose to be in the forefront of human freedoms we sure do dictate to adults what is or is not suitable for them.  The only people who should be in prison are those that do harm to others.  Get the mentally ill and drug users or abusers out and into treatment centers or not...some people use recreational drugs the way their suppose to be used..for recreation ...you know..like beer and shots of tequila are recreational.....we aren't doing anyone any good by locking them up for a few years and setting them back down in society.  They now have a record...even the pot smoking middle manager that got caught with an oz of weed on him as he was coming home from the pot dealers house...never mind that the pot was suppose to last a year...but tonight he's unlucky and gets pulled over ..his life savings are spent hiring a lawyer, he's sent to prison anyway where he's bullied and made to become Big Joe Kowinsky's bitch because Joe is 400 pounds at 6'6" and our recreational drug user is 150 pounds at 5'6"... his life is screwed in more ways then one and he comes out of prison bitter, broke, and looking for anything that will put his mind and soul to rest.

And

Some people are too far gone and should be in an institution for the mentally ill...and prison should not be used instead of.  For some reason our country decided we didn't need pleasant places for the mentally ill any longer...Can you imagine seeing people and hearing voices that aren't real and then being thrown into a prison situation or out on the streets to try to fend for yourself in a confused state?

Yea, our morals are all twisted and the way we treat our fellow human beings can be decribed as evil and just plain wrong.

Amen, Katherine.  We are totally screwed up.  I can't believe some of the responses on articles from people who id themselves as 'christians' - they say the most horrendous crap about punishing, torturing and killing criminals.  It's absolutely unbelievable.  And these people are the 'religious' ones?  The 'godly' ones? 

Video : An incredible Latino Republican and Perfect Idiot despising Black Americans

Videos of Rachel Maddow denouncing Republican Hypocrisy in attacking Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

The Hypocrisy of Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, saying that the Judge is "Racist" ( they are top Racists ).

The Hypocrisy of Manuel Miranda, Republican Promoter, saying a lot of Imbecilities. He is a very dubious person with very dubious indelicate acts and actions in the past and has been called a "disgrace" by some Republicans.

Manuel Miranda says about Latinos : "We are not like African Americans, We are like everybody else"

The strategy of the party of NO is not working.

{Rachel Maddow} With Enemies Like These... w/ Ana Marie Cox

Big Files on the History of Sonia Sotomayor with hundreds of Articles and Videos on Her Life :

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Vicente Duque

Why should we even care what Newt and Rush have to say, they're old news and I for one would love to see the news outlets ignoring them

Would you rather live in Iran?  Or North Korea?  How about South Africa?

What kind of response is that?  Ridiculous.   It's like going to the doctor complaining about a broken leg, and the doctor looks at you and says, "Would you rather have a broken back?  Or a broken neck?"  Makes about as much sense.

It's an appropriate response to the article.  Implying that Americans are the "most evil people on the planet" is monstrous.  Millions of American veterans have died fighting to make the world a better place.  No country has ever sacrificed more in the name of good.

And anyone who says otherwise is just a spoiled little brat who doesn't appreciate what their fellow Americans have done for them.

"No country has ever sacrificed more in the name of good."

Really? What about the extermination of Native Americans, slavery, racism, atomic bombs in Japan, mass murders in Latin America, Vietnam, Middle East, etc. Really so much good?!

And you left out apartheid.....

No, wait a minute....that was South Africa, wasn't it??....

Yes, it was in South Africa, fully supported by the US government!

In 1981, Ronald Reagan explained to CBS that he was loyal to the South African apartheid regime because it was "a country that has stood by us in every war we've ever fought, a country that, strategically, is essential to the free world in its production of minerals."

Never mind the genocidal policies that oppressed black people!

"And anyone who says otherwise is just a spoiled little brat who doesn't appreciate what their fellow Americans have done for them."

Really?  Both my dad and my FIL fought in WWII.  They hardly ever spoke about their experiences - they hated war.   They volunteered because they felt it was their duty at the time to fight Germany and Japan who were expanding and attacking other nations.  Now, however, it seems to make no difference if 'going to war' means defending against invasion, or being the active invader of a sovereign country.

And the freedoms that our military has traditionally fought for include the right to criticize our country when we see it headed down the wrong path and doing things that are antithetical to our very principles. 

Of course, Webb was not trying to say that Americans actually are the evilest people on Earth.  Rather he was using that dramatic phrase to underscore how irrational it is that Americans incarcerate their own people at such an extremely high rate when compared with other countries. 

There are many reasons for why Americans are doing this, none of them good ones.  The "war on drugs" started by Ronnie Reagan, has been an abysmal failure.  Drug usage has not abated one bit as a result of the program and the rate of incarceration for what amounts to a victimless crime has gone through the roof.  There are no positive outcomes to point to for this effort.

As pointed out above, black Americans are far, far more likely to be incarcerated than whites, or any other racial group for that matter.  From simple forms of police harrassment of black such as DWB (driving while black) to the unfair sentencing for identical crimes to the rate at which black people are falsley convicted, it is epidemic that blacks are unjustly sent to prison.

Poor people are also unfairly victimized by the legal system.  By turning justice into a commodity Americans have ensured that only the rich routinely get their way in court.  Even they do not get justice, as they get off for crimes they should have been convicted of, injustice that favours them.

Rory, thanks for a great comment! Can't agree more with you!

Exactly, Rory! Guilt or Innocence don't matter anymore, it's who has the best lawyer!

Even good people can do stupid things.  The overflowing prisons are a result of legislation supported by those in our political system that call themselves "conservatives."  These bad laws make them feel better.

Liberals also support bad laws but they have not been the ones in control of what gets passed for the last 30 years so most of the current bad law is bad conservative law instead of bad liberal law.  If the liberals had possessed the power over the last 30 years then we would have lots of bad liberal laws.

So, we are reaping the whirlwind of the right wing rather than the whirlwind of the left wing.

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