“The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives (Liberals). The business of (Liberals) Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected." G. K. Chesterton, Illustrated London News, April 19, 1924
Somewhere in the middle, perhaps lies common sense.
During the 1988 Presidential Campaign, George H.W. Bush’s strategist Lee Atwater made Willie Horton (a Black man convicted of murder) a household word.
Atwater’s ad explained that Gov. Dukakis's prison furlough program (unsupervised weekend passes) released Horton 10 times and, on one of those furloughs, he kidnapped a young couple, stabbed the boy and "repeatedly" raped the girl.
The ad effectively labeled Dukakis “soft on crime." Liberals and Conservatives, Republicans and Democrats alike set out to build a monstrous prison system to play a numbers game designed to show constituents they were not “soft on crime.”
The message from the prison industrial complex simply stated, “The more people in jail, the safer you are, whether these criminals be violent or not.”
And we, the American people, bought it hook, line and sinker.
Untold billions of dollars were removed from infrastructure projects, roads, bridges and public safety to jail non-violent prisoners in facilities designed with all the comforts of home.
The greed of a few and the self serving aspirations of inbred politicians have turned The United States of America from the “Land of the Free” to “Incarceration Nation.”
At a cost of over 60 billion dollars per year, 2,000,000 mostly non-violent inmates rot in prisons and jails while our roads and bridges collapse.
Dismantling the Prison Industrial Complex should be on Tea Party Agenda!
Whatever your thoughts of the Tea Party, good, bad or indifferent, they are involved.
While we are still the greatest country in the world, the Tea Party seeks to restore the solid underlying wealth in the middle class that resulted in the “The More Perfect Union,” “With Malice toward None,” the common sense that made us great in the first place.
And that is why I have decided to run for District 3 County Commissioner in 2012.
Realistically, I can’t do much on the National scene, but I can make a difference for Chisago County.
It’s not that George McMahon “sucks” all that bad as a commissioner. He has done much good for the community, but George, like most politicians is part of the problem when he chooses not to be part of the solution.
Quite frankly, George does not have the “balls” to take on the Prison Industrial Complex.
I ran against George in the Primary of 2008. I came in dead last. The elitists ridiculed the 77 votes I garnered.
Myself, I have always been very proud that 77 people voted against the mainstream for good government and open representation.
The election is a long way off, in the meantime, I would like to fix your lawnmower, rider or snowblower.
We offer free pickup and delivery in Chisago County and the Metro Area.
As always, recycling of your unwanted outdoor power equipment is free.
As a local business person, I want to earn your business. In that process, I hope to earn your respect and ultimately your vote.
I don’t need nor will I accept campaign contributions and I won’t discuss politics unless you start it. Thanks, Jon
Denise Martin Chisago County Press, Mary Helen Swanson North Branch ECM Post Review, Johanna Puelston Isanti Chisago County Star fiefdompolitics written in cowardly anonymity Tim Okeefe or his wife FishLakeKarpa
