-----Original Message----- From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org] On Behalf Of Sheldon Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 8:59 PM To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] Angela-a-Day
On Fri, Apr 3, 2009 at 12:36 PM, Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu> wrote:
>> I've both read her and heard her speak on prisons. That is my point
of
> departure for arguing that one benchmark of the appearance of an
actual
> left in the u.S. will be that one of its central demands will be for
the
> abolition of prisons. There is no way to reform that system, for a
> number of reasons. And prisons create far more crime than they
prevent.
> Also abolishing prisons would carry with it the abolition of the war
on
> drugs at the same time it would contribute to solving the fiscal
> problems of the states, counties, and municipalities.
>
> Carrol
Ye know, I really have to roll my eyes when I hear some leftists suggest that we abolish prisons. Talk about utopianism. Aside from agreeing with you about the war on drugs. Yes, capitalist society may create and sustain all kinds of social pathologies. And I don't doubt that there can be all kinds of measures to treat those social pathologies, reduce crime and make prisons less neccessary. However, there still are going to be evil bastards like this guy who we don't want walking around free:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090327/ts_alt_afp/uscrimetrial_200903272 22940
And what about the counter-revolutionary thugs that try to reverse the gains of a would-be socialist society? Unless, you're suggesting that they just all be executed regardless of their counter-revolutionary crimes? ___________________________________ http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk