Timely News Story

[bu villain]

Just a week or so ago I made a post about how we treat our prisoners better than we treat our poor. Then I saw this story today.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/229111.php

[-EnVus-]

Just watched a program on tv where in Washington state is the worst at this. More than 3/4 of the inmates admit they only committed a crime to be jailed for medical help.

[BanginJimmy]

Not a surprise at all. The ACLU is HUGE into prisoner treatment, but there isnt much of a market for expanding the rights of the homeless.

IMO, the only medical treatment prisoners should receive is life saving, such as treatment for a stab wound. I believe they gave up their right to non emergency, or life extending care when they chose to become felons.

[bu villain]

But I would really like to know how it got this way. Why is there more pressure to keep inmates healthy than the poor law abiding population? I don't understand the motivations? Is there a group that somehow profits from inmate care but could not profit from caring for the poor? Can anyone shed some light on this?

[BanginJimmy]

But I would really like to know how it got this way. Why is there more pressure to keep inmates healthy than the poor law abiding population? I don't understand the motivations? Is there a group that somehow profits from inmate care but could not profit from caring for the poor? Can anyone shed some light on this?

A very good portion of it is he ACLU and other civil liberties groups. These are the people that go to court saying its an inmates RIGHT to be able to smoke. Their RIGHT to have TV. Their RIGHT to hundreds of other singularly simple things. The problem is, all these little things have combined to try to turn prison, a punishment, into a Club med.

[bu villain]

A very good portion of it is he ACLU and other civil liberties groups. These are the people that go to court saying its an inmates RIGHT to be able to smoke. Their RIGHT to have TV. Their RIGHT to hundreds of other singularly simple things. The problem is, all these little things have combined to try to turn prison, a punishment, into a Club med.

But that doesn't answer my questions. My questions are about the motivations. Why would the ACLU care about inmates getting medical care but not poor people. There must be some rationale behind their support of one but not the other. And why were they so successful at getting all these things for inmates when there hasn't been similar success for the poor?

[5speed]

But that doesn't answer my questions. My questions are about the motivations. Why would the ACLU care about inmates getting medical care but not poor people. There must be some rationale behind their support of one but not the other. And why were they so successful at getting all these things for inmates when there hasn't been similar success for the poor?

Alot of prisons are privately owned. Yes, people do profit off of having inmates. While there is profit being made, studies have shown it is also cheaper than the government running it all themselves. There is "better" management in spending and what not. This doesn't mean that all prisons are privately owned though. I would think the privately owned prisons are the ones that have a bit more freedom to obtain what would be considered luxuries in prison.

[BanginJimmy]

But that doesn't answer my questions. My questions are about the motivations. Why would the ACLU care about inmates getting medical care but not poor people. There must be some rationale behind their support of one but not the other. And why were they so successful at getting all these things for inmates when there hasn't been similar success for the poor?

The motivation is money and prestige. For some reason the ACLU profits greatly when they win a battle for the poor, abused prisoners. Further than that, I really dont understand the reasoning behind it. I just know that it is a fact of life.

[BanginJimmy]

I would think the privately owned prisons are the ones that have a bit more freedom to obtain what would be considered luxuries in prison.

Actually the privately owned prisons are the exact opposite. They are run far stricter than govt run prisons.

[bu villain]

The motivation is money and prestige. For some reason the ACLU profits greatly when they win a battle for the poor, abused prisoners. Further than that, I really dont understand the reasoning behind it. I just know that it is a fact of life.

So is there more money and prestige for getting healthcare for prisoners than there is for getting it to the poor?

[BanginJimmy]

So is there more money and prestige for getting healthcare for prisoners than there is for getting it to the poor?

For some reason, yes there is. Like I said, I cant explain it, but it is a reality.