Texas conservatives reject Harper's crime plan

[CHIMO]

Conservatives in the United States' toughest crime-fighting jurisdiction — Texas — say the Harper government's crime strategy won't work.

"You will spend billions and billions and billions on locking people up," says Judge John Creuzot of the Dallas County Court. "And there will come a point in time where the public says, 'Enough!' And you'll wind up letting them out."

Adds Rep. Jerry Madden, a conservative Republican who heads the Texas House Committee on Corrections, "It's a very expensive thing to build new prisons and, if you build 'em, I guarantee you they will come. They'll be filled, OK? Because people will send them there.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/10/17/pol-vp-milewski-texas-crime.html
Oct 17, 2011 6:17 PM ET

[shockedcanadian]

1. No doubt about it...

This is a cash-sink strategy that benefits very few careers. It is ill-timed considering the state of the economy, it does not assist Canada in our International competitiveness nor does it help us increase our GDP. It has been proven to be a failed approach, so why go down this road? Why repeat the mistakes that others have shown do not work?

I am definitely fiscally Conservative, but socially I find I am in the middle. For most of this proposal I divert down a different road. One thing I know for sure, if you do not get to the source of crime, if you do not work to answer the "why"? than you are doing your nation a disservice. Locking someone up and throwing away the key costs alot of money. Consider the costs to society because you have one less member who can contribute, the cost of the prison, legal, AND, ultimately that criminal will leave prison better connected with other criminals and he or she will probably have a lower chance of reform when they get out. It is a vindictive and spiteful approach to crime fighting; ultimately it is a losing proposition for everyone except those in a narrow field.

There are some who cannot be "cured", for those a tougher stance is needed, they are the few. For so many wide ranging crimes, and for those who are not "hardcore", why do so much to ensure they do not have a chance to contribute to society in a positive manner? There are massive costs associated with such a narrow minded approach to crime. Frankly this is not a common sense policy, it's as simple as that. Harper needs to canvass his ENTIRE cabinet and ask for an honest opinion, not just the lapdogs who will nod yes to any of his proposals. If he does so, I am certain he will see that this experiment has failed south of the border and it has pushed their economy further into the red than needed.

[CHIMO]

2. Fiscally Conservative?

You may want to take some metaphisical exercises.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. Harper tries to prove hell exists

... by creating it himself.

snip

Harper knows exactly how the American system has failed, but he also knows it's not about getting criminals off the street - especially in Canada where the crime rate has been steadily dropping - it's about corporate profit. He plans to hand over well-filled prisons to private contractors once they've been built/refurbished with tax dollars. To hell with what the people want; he works for Big Biz.

The more hellish the prisons become, the more recidivism will occur, and the more fat government contracts will be awarded to the minions of hell. The increased danger to the public is only an issue for the public, not for Harper, not for the profiteers.

The money game is Harper's "highest calling" - for all others it's prison or the military. His only problem was not being able to achieve a majority - until now - so he could get the agenda rolling.

http://yayacanada.blogspot.com/2011/10/harper-tries-to-prove-hell-exists.html