[ExI] Proposition 47 has passed in California

[Adrian Tymes]

On Sat, Nov 8, 2014 at 11:39 AM, BillK <pharos at gmail.com> wrote:

> This news hasn't got a mention on the BBC, but surely this is a big deal?
> To me it looks like the beginning of the end for the War on Drugs that
> has ruined a generation.
>
> <
> http://newamericamedia.org/2014/11/prop-47-as-california-goes-so-goes-the-nation.php
> >
>

The pendulum swings back and forth.  Politicians who think they'll get more
votes if they appear to be "tough on crime" keep extending sentences and
tossing more people in jail.

This only came about because the same politicians refused to pay for more
jails to the point that overcrowding became intolerable, and the federal
courts stepped in.  The politicians have continued to attempt to not seem
soft on crime; this proposition - which they are unable to simply legislate
away - gives them an excuse to do the right thing.

But note that this came from the voters.  The whole "tough on crime" meme
may be getting less popular once enough voters see how this costs them
personally - when too many of them have a friend or relative who's been
locked away for something that only deserved a slap on the wrist.
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