finding justice in our justice system...

It isn't often I can say that a piece of legislation excites me, but on Thursday, Senator Jim Webb of Virginia introduced a bipartisan bill that actually made me giddy, and that offered me a sigh of relief that we are not completely blind to our problems or incompetent in addressing them...although I guess we'll have to wait and see.

The National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 calls for a blue-ribbon (non-governmental, non-partisan) commission to examine and review our entire criminal justice system and make recommendations for it's potential overhaul. All this after astonishing statistics and findings have been revealed regarding our current (and disgraceful) C.J. system. What kind of statistics, you ask, could be so disgraceful? Consider this...

-The U.S. houses 5% of the world's population...and 25% of the world's prisoners.
-Since 1980, the incarceration rate for drug offenders has increased 1200% (No,that's not a typo.).
-Although African Americans account for only 14% of our monthly drug use, they make up 37% of those arrested on drug charges and 59% of those convicted on drug charges.
-There are approximately four times as many mentally ill people in prisons than in mental health institutions

These are just few of many...and it infuriates me to go on.

As we house more "criminals" than any other country in the world, our education system crumbles, our health care system fails millions of Americans and drug use and violence in our streets continues to skyrocket. It is clear that our insistence on imprisoning our own people for any reason we think of is doing little to create a safer, healthier society. It seems much more likely that we are fueling a bureaucratic fire...feeding money into a system that creates more problems so that we can feed more money into it...and the cycle goes on. We need to stop penalizing people for issues of morality and put a real focus on keeping people safe.

And it will be no big surprise (if this bill passes) that we will come to realize the recklessness and uselessness of our nation's prized "War on Drugs". The rapid increase of our incarceration rate is largely, if not solely, due to the enforcement and criminalization of our drug policies. This would be fine and dandy if we found that throwing drug users in jail resulted in a rapid reduction in drug use...but this is truly not the case. If legalizing and regulating drugs will prevent gang and street violence- it is something we need to seriously consider. If offering treatment to drug users will result in a decrease in drug abuse- it is something we need to seriously consider. If educating our children about the potential harm of drug use while remaining honest with them about responsible use (such as the system we have with alcohol) will help them make better decisions and stay healthier- again, it is something we need to consider. And if taxing the crap out of drugs will create an avenue to decrease our health care costs and provide treatment to those who need it, well...do I need to go on?

Props to Senator Webb in recognizing a serious ill of our nation and bringing it to the forefront. It's about time we start putting practicality before politics.

Dear Republicans,

It has been a long time since my last post here on Voter Mission. It was nice to take some time and soak up the uplifting feeling of a new generation of leaders for our country. Even with the election of Barack Obama as our President and the passing of the largest stimulus package in the history of the world, our economy has still continued in a downward spiral. The hearts of Americans continue to be broken and times are getting tougher but I cant help feeling like the sun is still shinning. I was living in the Netherlands when President Obama was eleceted but when I returned home in December I could feel something was different, I still feel that way today. It feels like the clouds have parted, even though the economy stinks and millions of jobs have been lost, I feel like I can turn to my neighbor like never before. I feel like we are working together rather than apart, even though the stimulus passed with little to no republican support. I feel like that is not representative of our country, our citizens.
And then this week I hear Rush Limbaugh, the self proclaimed leader of the Republican party accuse President Obama of fear mongering, instilling fear into the American people in order to push a liberal agenda. I say to anyone who believes that please board a plane and leave now. If you can accuse President Obama of fear mongering, may I ask you about your former leader and the ideals of the Republican Party during the last 8 years. DO NOT be as ignorant as the last 8 years, do not listen to the right or left media instead I urge you to make informed desicions and have open conversations. BUT when someone says to you that Rush Limbaugh or anyone for that matter is right to accuse Barack Obama of instilling fear in our country I hope your response is something less ignorant and more relevant. THE times of old have passed and it is time for a new generation of americans to lead the way.
A generation that understands the world we are living in and the technology and innovation in our future, for these are the things that are going to lead us out of these dark times. Instead of division and accusations come to us with solutions new solutions because the old ones didnt work. I dont care if your talking about the economy or education, I dont care if you have been an executive for 30 years and know the models and the protocols like the back of your hand. It is time to learn something new, it is time for you to let your guard down and retreat your time was up well before it started. You were so right before and look where we are now.
I hear every day on the news about the new leaders of the republican party and the new ideals of the republican party and I cant help but be feel sad. Sad that millions of Americans can give a standing ovation to a man that has placed false accusations on our President in order to inspire a political party. I hope any republican that reads this post does not feel attacked, I am not attacking your party or your ideals. What I am saying is that I am tired, sick, tired and sad of hearing the representatives of your party divide our country more. And it brings me saddness to know that my fellow americans rely on people like Rush Limbaugh to portray a message. It effects me, even as a dem, it makes me sad to be an american. We all should be ashamed........

Israel's own demise???

Who will save Israel from itself?

Blindly backing Isreal...

When discussing the current situation between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, it is easy for many to assume that Israel is doing the right thing, or perhaps, the rational thing, in "protecting herself" against rocket attacks from Hamas by attacking and invading Gaza. I mean, we have always been an staunch ally of Israel...and how would we know any different? After weeks now of fighting, foreign journalists are still being denied entry to Gaza, and the situation inside has hardly been exposed. The public knows only what Israeli and Hamas representatives tell us...there is no actual coverage of Gaza and it's dying citizens or the dire humanitarian situation that exists there. The people of Gaza have been repeatedly denied basic necessities for years. Israel has continued to neglect these people and it leads me to think that perhaps there is a reason why Hamas continues missile fire without regard for the hundreds of Palestinians who are being pounded and obliterated by Israel in Gaza. In my eyes, violence is never the best option for getting a job done, but when people are starving and in need of medical help and supplies, there is not much they won't do to get results.
I have to admit, I am not an expert on this issue, for it has always been one that has been difficult for me to wrap my head around. This is why I want to open this discussion. That being said, I cannot support the United States blindly backing Israel regardless of their actions, when over 700 Palestians (hundreds of which were civilians) have been killed in these greusome attacks, and no attempt has been made to offer Palestinians full humanitarian aid in order to stop missile fire. I do not want to be misunderstood- I do NOT agree with the acts of terrorism Hamas has taken against Israel. I just feel strongly that the situation could have been handled much differently and diplomatically, as the citizens of Gaza are not firing missiles from their homes, their schools and their places of worship- all of which have been destroyed by Israel's attacks. This week, former President Jimmy Carter wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post describing the situation in Gaza as he sees it. It's worth taking a look at. We talk a lot about peace in the Middle East, but peace without proper treatment of all people just isn't possible.

New Year, New Leaf

Happy New Year bloggers! Welcome back to VoterMission. We apologize for the lack of posts over the last couple of months...the holidays have a way of taking us away from reality. Unfortunately, reality is hitting us hard in this new year, and we have little time to waste in taking to the issues that are plaguing our country, our neighbors and our planet. VoterMission is about creating an open dialogue, and encouraging individuals to pay attention and take action. We have made great strides in electing our new president, and I am cautiously optimistic about the work he will do. But, nonetheless, it is up to us to let our leaders know what we want to see get done, and how we want our country's priorities shifted so that work is being done for the people. As far as I'm concerned, preemptive war and violence, corporate control of our policies, and oil guzzling habits are the old way of business (they haven't worked so well over the past 8 years), and we must reign in the new year with diplomacy, fairness and alternative energy. I truly beleive this is our time to shine...to become the America, once again, that the rest of the world can look up to. But it is up to us...we have to work...we have to push. VoterMission is an outlet...let your voice be heard. We welcome your thoughts, opinions and stories. If you think it matters...post it...link it. We're back to business, people.
Wishing you the best in 2009 and beyond!