A Second Chance for Ex-Offenders: New York Times Editorial

A Second Chance for Ex-Offenders

Published: November 7, 2007

If past patterns hold true, more than half of the 650,000 prisoners released this year will be back behind bars by 2010. With the prison population exploding and the price of incarceration now topping $60 billion a year, states are rightly focusing on ways to reduce recidivism. Congress can give these efforts a boost by passing the Second Chance Act, which would provide crucial help to people who have paid their debts to society.

Newly released inmates are often driven right back to prison by difficulty in obtaining jobs, education and housing, as well as by the social stigma that comes from having been in prison. In addition, many of these people suffer from mental illnesses but have no access to treatment. Some states have begun offering assistance in these areas, but much more needs to be done.
The Second Chance Act would add to what the country knows about the re-entry process by establishing a federal re-entry task force, along with a national resource center to collect and disseminate information about proven programs.

The bill would broaden access to high-quality drug treatment, which is in scarce supply almost everywhere. It would also encourage states to work harder at reuniting families, which are often torn apart when a parent goes to prison.

The country worsened the recidivism crisis when it killed off many of the in-prison education programs that have a strong track record of helping released inmates live crime-free lives. The bill would begin to reverse that destructive trend by providing grants to improve academic and vocational education behind bars.

The programs necessary to help former prisoners find a place in society do not exist in most communities. The Second Chance Act would help to create those programs by providing money, training, technical assistance — and a Congressional stamp of approval.

Dawn Zimmer Elected 4th Ward Councilwoman in Hoboken

Dawn Zimmer is the winner!!!! She won 1070-956 unofficially. Congratulations Dawn (councilwoman Zimmer). Here is a video from you tube on election night. Politics can be transformative.

This has been a hard fought election with round 3 going to Dawn Zimmer who will finally take her seat for good on the council. It seems to be a decisive victory. What is amazing is the numbers of voters keeps going up. I thought this time around people would stay away because of the heated and sometimes nasty race it became. But, the people voted and Dawn Zimmer is elected.

Public Question 5: Hoboken residents approved a property tax of $20 per $100,000 of assessed value to create an Open Space Trust Fund, which would be used to acquire future parks and open space. Sixty-two percent of voters approved and 38 percent voted against it. It seems it was a good night for the anti-establisment. Let us keep it up.

Go to Blue Jersey for comprehensive New Jersey political results. They are reporting this morning a huge upturn in women elected to the state legislature. To their credit they have been discussing this for a while. Good stuff.

experience the artisan life in hoboken

as i continue my quest to find the best in hoboken for local shopping and anti-mass consumer flavor, i have discovered a lovely store at 211 bloomfield street, samper artisans, that offers much more than yarns and knitting supplies. step inside this homey brick building to meet owner and artisan mercedes colyer, a hoboken native and pattern maker for the nyc fashion industry for many years. once inside, you will discover many unique treasures and gift ideas -- vintage clothes, jewelry, hand knit items -- while feeling that you stepped into someone's happy home. mercedes keeps her workspace in the center of the store so we chatted casually as i looked around.

she opened artisans years ago after working in the fashion world. mercedes is a master creator. i watched her work on several dresses, one of a kind retro-inspired clothes created in her in-store workplace. she explained that her love of crafts (needlecraft/knitting) converged with her love of vintage clothing, bags, shoes and collectibles. you can find cozy 100% woolen hand knit sweaters, hats, blankets and pillows.

mercedes recently expanded to producing one of a kind clothes, tailored to your size and liking, as well as selling fabrics, accessories and needles for sewing.

visit samper artisans and be cured of the mall, mass produced and online shopping habit forever!!

JUNK YOUR CATALOGUES

ugh! holiday madness & ultra consumerism creep up so quickly right after halloween. today alone i received 3 catalogues (2 from the same company). last season, i called a bunch of retailers for removal from their mailing lists. seems like the calls don't really help. but now i found a new approach... catalogue choice (see image top left to link to site) is a free online service that allows customers to choose the catalogs they no longer want to receive in the mail.

check it out, reduce your clutter & impact the earth! the online process is quick and easy...

from emagazine.com:

A study performed by Environmental Defense in collaboration with Catalog Choice examines the impact of junk mailings. Almost 20 billion catalogs are mailed each year, amounting to 3.6 million tons of paper and accounting for the destruction of 35 million trees. Deforestation contributes to about a quarter of all carbon pollution, the main cause of planet-wide climate change.

The study found these mail order solicitations have the lowest recycling rate of all printed raw materials, just 32 percent. The power used to produce these catalogs is enough to power 1.2 million homes a year, and it results in 5.2 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions—the equivalent to two million cars on the road. The production, delivery, accumulation, and disposal of catalogs contribute to global warming and water pollution from various sources. Reducing catalog numbers would be a first positive step.

Catalog Choice has amassed a large database of catalog companies and its users “opt-out” through a process similar to a “do not call” list. The initiative aims to improve the efficiency of catalog distribution by reducing the number of repeat unsolicited mailings, and promoting better environmental practices in the catalog industry.

2007 is the deadliest year for U.S. Troop Casualties

The report of five more U.S. soldiers in Iraq brings 2007 as the deadliest year for U.S. troop casualties. At least 853 American military personnel have died in Iraq so far this year -- the highest annual toll since the war began in March 2003, according to AP figures.

Also Tuesday, the U.S. military said Iraqi troops had discovered 22 bodies in a mass grave northwest of Baghdad over the weekend. The bodies were found during a joint operation Saturday. It was the second mass grave found in the area in less than a month.

While casualty rates for U.S. troops have recently dropped Americans still disapprove of the war. Fifty-nine percent still don't think the United States is making significant progress restoring civil order there, and a record six in 10 want the level of U.S. forces reduced. All told, 63 percent say the war was not worth fighting, almost exactly its average this year, and a majority, steadily since December 2004. Intensity against the war continues to run high, with 51 percent saying they feel "strongly" that it was not worth fighting, more than double its strong supporters.

The question is how has the violence affected civilian casualties of ordinary Iraqis? The answer is complicated, but some evidence can be gleaned form the Iraq body count web page. There is no doubt an improvement has occurred in the last couple of months both in U.S. casualties, but also in civilian casualties. It is important to place the events of 2007 in context, [however]. Levels of violence reached an all-time high in the last six months of 2006. Only in comparison to that could the first half of 2007 be regarded as an improvement. Despite any efforts put into the surge, the first six months of 2007 was still the most deadly first six months for civilians of any year since the invasion. Therefore, when comparing the violence to the most deadly time period in Iraq, today there is a decrease in the violence, however when compared to any other time during the war this time period would be seen as deadly violent. Go here for more information on civilian deaths in Iraq. The number ranges anywhere from 76,000 to 83,000 +

For example, on the Iraq body count page it gives the previous day's violence. Twenty-eight people were reported killed. Baghdad: 5 killed in Baladiyat, Ghadeer, Zafaraniya, Jamia; 3 bodies. Balad Ruz: 2 policemen killed in clashes with gunmen; 5 bodies found in river. Mosul: gunmen kill government employee; 7 bodies. Tikrit-Dour: 2 bodies found on highway...the list continues.

Countdown: Special Comment - Bush Fired Assistant Attorney General Daniel Levin for Asserting Waterboarding as Torture

George Bush should be in jail, not running our country. We must all wake up and participate for our way of life is in jeopardy.

FIGHT LOCAL DISCRIMINATION!!

in response to the recent filing of a federal lawsuit by five hoboken police officers who claim a hostile & discriminatory working environment, we hope you will join with the hoboken community in standing up against the hate...

HOBOKEN POLICE LT. ANGELO ANDRIANI

(that's him below)

STAND UP AGAINST DISCRIMINATION!

JOIN WITH US TO STOP THE HATE!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, 2007 AT 6:00PM

OUTSIDE HOBOKEN CITY HALL, 94 WASHINGTON STREET, HOBOKEN, NJ

The Boondocks: Aaron McGruder

"If you ain't sayin nothin', you the system's accomplice." - Black Thought - (The Roots)

John Fogarty - Don't You Wish it Was True

I am a sucker for a good John Fogarty song. See this recent review at the Huffington Post


But if tomorrow
everybody had enough
The world wasn't quite so rough
don't you wish it was true

He said the worlds gonna change
and it's starting today
There'll be no more armies,
no more hate
Don't you wish it was true
Don't you wish it was true

And all the little children
who live happily
There'll be singing and laughter, sweet harmony
Don't you wish it was true
Don't you wish it was true

But if tomorrow
Everybody under the sun
was happy just living as one
No borders or battles to be won

Donor Strike Against the Democratic Party

I received this email from democrats.com. It is a donor strike, not giving another cent until certain conditions apply. Here is the email in full, the donor strike and the petition. What do you think? I, for one cannot as a matter of conscience support a democratic party that is in name only (certainly with the exclusion of some very good party members) and caves every chance they have.

In 2006, the voters of America elected Democratic majorities to the Senate and House in order

to end the occupation of Iraq and restore the Constitution of the United States. We, the Netroots, helped elect Democratic majorities with large contributions of money, time, and passion.

Unfortunately Congressional Democrats have surrendered to George Bush and Dick Cheney on all of the issues we care about most: Iraq, Iran, warrantless wiretapping, torture, and habeas corpus.
We recognize that "Bush Democrats" are primarily to blame for Democratic failures, and we will

do whatever we can to change their minds - or replace them with true Democrats in 2008.

But we cannot wait until then to fix the urgent problems we face.
We will therefore begin a donor strike against the official fundraising committees for Senate Democrats (DSCC) and House Democrats (DCCC) until our core demands are met. We will instead contribute only to individual candidates who firmly support the values of the Democratic Party and the American people, as certified by BlueAmerica and Progressive Challenge 2008.

To: Senator Chuck Schumer, Chair, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Chair, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC)

I write to inform you that I am joining the Democratic Donor Strike against the DSCC and DCCC. While I continue to support the Democratic Party and will contribute to Democratic committees and candidates who are fighting for progressive causes, I will not support the DSCC or DCCC until the Democratic-controlled Congress accomplishes these four goals:

1. Restrict any new Iraq funds to a safe withdrawal of U.S. troops - the "Peace Pledge"adopted by 90 House Members;

2. Prohibit any use of funds to plan or execute a pre-emptive attack on Iran, and repeal the post-9/11 Authorization of Use of Military Force that Bush and Cheney believe authorizes them to attack Iran or any other country they please, as well as to wiretap all our calls and emails without warrants;

3. Fully restore the Constitution by strictly outlawing warrantless wiretapping and torture, closing Guantanamo, and restoring habeas corpus;

4. Complete the investigation of White House crimes by using "inherent contempt" to compel testimony by current and former White House officials.

I understand that it takes a majority of votes to accomplish these goals, but I consider it the responsibility of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi, as the Leaders of our Party, to deliver those votes.

If you want my help, I will be delighted to lobby my Senators and Representative to support whatever legislation you introduce to accomplish these goals, and to encourage all my friends and relatives to join me in this lobbying. All you have to do is lead the way.

Thank you for your attention to my urgent concerns about the crisis we face as a Nation.

Bill Maher: "Can the Democrats Grow at Least One Ball"

For more on why the violence is down go here. Of course as Kos says the surge was supposed to be for political reconciliation which has not happened at all. At all. That violence is down is a good thing...but it will not sustain itself in anyway. Though, one of the reasons is because of ethnic cleansing and some neighborhoods have been so etnically cleansed there is no one left to kill. This is a tragedy that we will be living with for the next century.

A Blank Check for W

The Democrats are preparing to give George W. Bush a blank check on Iraq. In 2006 Nancy Pelosi stood before us and said the days of a "do nothing" Congress are over along with her counterpart Harry Reid. The Democratic Congress has failed to stop the war effort by the Rethuglicans, but have at least promised no more blank check. Yet, Roll Call reports a blank check is exactly what may be given. Despite their rhetoric about not wanting to hand President Bush another “blank check” for the Iraq War, Democrats appear poised to give him exactly that — enough cash to keep the war going full steam for as long as six months, no strings attached.

Democratic leaders continue to fear GOP attacks that cutting off or slowing funds would hurt the troops, despite anger among the Democratic base over the party’s failure to use Congress’ power of the purse to end the war," reports the Capitol Hill newspaper's Steven T. Dennis.

As adamant as they say they are about tying war funding to deescalation timetables, Democratic leaders appear even more firmly against an overall cut-off of war funds, which critics say may be their only recourse to actually effect a draw-down of troops from Iraq.

"Sure we have the power on anything to stop the money ... but the thing we have to do is make sure we do it the right way," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on a liberal radio show last month. "It's not a question of all or nothing; it's a question of making sure we do the right thing."

Congress approved billions in extra funding and stopgap spending resolutions after Gen. David Petraeus' testimony on Capitol Hill in September. Next up is the regular Defense spending bill, which Democrats are crafting to allow funding to be diverted from regular Pentagon accounts to fund the war, according to Roll Call. Appropriations Chairman John Murtha (D-PA) told the paper that the Defense Department would be able to maintain the war "until May or June" with the extra flexibility.

This says it best: "As long as leadership is not willing to challenge the way the president is hiding behind the troops," the aide said, "they're going to continue to get rolled." We were hoodwinked in November. There is no other way to say it. If we want this war to end the Democrats have proven they are not the messenger.

Live From New York It's Saturday Night: Barack Obama

Manny Being Manny:

While the Democrats were Caving ABC News Reported the White House Own Counsel Considered Waterboarding Torture: Assclowns

This is shocking. I saw this last night on Olbermann. He discussed it with Richard Wolfe and then John Dean. A high ranking official in the justice department then-acting (2004) assistant attorney general Daniel Levin was so concerned about the administration’s use of waterboarding that he went to a military base near Washington and underwent the procedure himself.

Levin took over Jack Goldsmith when he resigned and immediately began reassessing the administration's interrogation techniques. Levin released a memo that torture was abhorrent. What is even more shocking, Levin was so concerned with "waterboarding" being used and experienced the procedure himself and told the Whitehouse it could be considered torture.

After the experience, Levin told White House officials that even though he knew he wouldn’t die, he found the experience terrifying and thought that it clearly simulated drowning. Of course we know as Glory to the Union pointed out, one cannot simulate drowning, you are either drowning or you are not.

Levin, who refused to comment for this story, concluded waterboarding could be illegal torture unless performed in a highly limited way and with close supervision. And, sources told ABC News, he believed the Bush Administration had failed to offer clear guidelines for its use. Shortly, thereafter Levin was forced out by new AG Alberto Gonzalez.

This post is not meant for Mukasey or for the administration, but is meant for the democrats. When is enough - enough for them. While Feinstein and Schumer were caving this report was being released. Will this change thier minds? Probably not, but it is baffling that an opposition party provides no oppostion whatsoever.

See the ABC report below:

Assclowns of the week: the Democrats

vive la france!

in honor of the SG's upcoming trip to france (and because malraux is one of my favorite french writers--check out the dashing, wind swept photo):

November 3, 2007

Andre Malraux

On this date in 1901, writer and freedom fighter Andre Malraux was born in Paris, France. Malraux studied Asian language at the Ecole des Langues Orientales. Not completing his studies, he traveled to Asia as a young man, becoming a noted critic of French colonial rule in Indochina. He cofounded the Young Annam League and founded the newspaper, Indochina in Chains. His first novel, The Temptation of the West, was published in 1926, followed by The Conquerors (1928), The Royal Way (1930), Man's Fate (1934), Days of Hope (1937), and The Walnut Trees of Altenburg (1943). After joining archaeological expeditions to Iran and Afghanistan in the 1930s, Malraux cofounded the International Association of Writers for the Defense of Culture. During the Spanish Civil War, Malraux flew on missions as a pilot for the Republicans, and was wounded twice. He also traveled to the United States to try to raise money for the Republican cause.

"Man defines himself by what he does, not by what he dreams," he wrote. A fictional account of his experiences, (L'Espoir) was published in 1937, and a movie followed in 1939. During WWII, Malraux joined the French Army, was captured in 1940 during the Western Offensive, escaped and joined the French Resistance. In 1944, he was captured by the Gestapo, and, following a mock execution, was rescued by the Resistance. He then joined the Free French and fought at Strasbourg and the takeover of Stuttgart. He was awarded the Medal of the Resistance, the Croix de Guerre, and the British Distinguished Service Order. Gen. Charles De Gaulle appointed Malraux his minister of information in 1945-1946. During the 1950s, Malraux wrote about aesthetics and art. He served as minister of cultural affairs in 1960-1967. His autobiography, Anti-Memoirs, was published in 1967. D. 1976.

“To the absurd myths of God and an immortal soul, the modern world in its radical impotence has only succeeded in opposing the ridiculous myths of science and progress.”
-- Andre Malraux, cited in Who's Who In Hell edited by Warren Allen Smith

Freethought of the Day is courtesy of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, PO Box 750, Madison WI 53701. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national association of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics) working to keep church and state separate since 1978. For more information, go to http://www.ffrf.org.

Take a Presidential Quiz: Which Candidate is Right for You?

A new website called Glassbooth has an on-line Presidential quiz. It is pretty interesting. First go to the quiz and rate issues that matter to you. You have 20 points to distribute and rate. For instance I rated civil liberties and Iraq high, but did not give credence to drugs. Then click at the bottom after you distribute the 20 points and take the quiz.

My candidate: Dennis Kucinich - I agreed with Dennis on 93% of the issues.
Second candidate - Mike Gravel - I agreed with Mr. Gravel on 91% of the issues.
My third candidate - John Edwards - I agreed with Edwards on 83% of the issues.

I would be very interested to see what SG readers score on this quiz. Take the quiz and report back.

Scorecard on the Mukasey Nomination

Just to add to Glory to the Union's post below, here is the current scorecard on the vote for Mukasey. Patrick Leahy has just announced his opposition to the nomination and could have derailed his confirmation for good. Let us hope.

I know waterboarding is torture - because I did it myself

I seldom direct people to read the New York Daily News, but there was a powerful Op-ed piece that ran yesterday. "I know waterboarding is torture - because I did it myself" by Malcolm Nance speaks the plain facts about waterboarding on which the administration, Michael Mukasey, and even Congress have waivered. If you read the piece and peruse his bio, you will see Mr. Nance speaks from authority because he speaks from experience. He has administered waterboarding, but he has also experienced it.

I wonder if Mr. Mukasey and members of Congress, the administration, and the courts for that matter, would be willing to submit themselves to the practice of waterboarding as a way of helping themselves determine whether or not it is torture. Forgive the awful pun, but I am not going to hold my breath to wait and find out.

No End in Sight

This is the devastating documentary just released on DVD - No End in Sight. It is an expose' on how not to run a war and it should be a message to anyone even contemplating war with Iran.

Organize a house party and watch this film. Here is a review from the New York Times. A.O. Scott says of the film: If failure, as the saying goes, is an orphan, then “No End in Sight” can be thought of as a brief in a paternity suit, offering an emphatic, well- supported answer to a question that has already begun to be mooted on television talk shows and in journals of opinion: Who lost Iraq? On Mr. Ferguson’s short list are Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz and L. Paul Bremer III. None of them agreed to be interviewed for the film. Perhaps they will watch it.