Talking turkey
By Robin Lamb
@troyburns (1405)
New Zealand
November 26, 2015 5:03pm CST
President Obama has once again been called on to 'reprieve' a couple of turkeys - real ones - in a ceremony AP describes as providing "a refreshing sense of amusement and bipartisan cheer no matter how troubled the times."
When you see the footage - and you probably will - spare a thought for the more than nine million people in prison worldwide, one quarter of whom are incarcerated in the Land of the Free.
And as you watch the President give a second chance at life to 'Honest' and 'Abe', think about the thirty thousand men and women currently facing execution somewhere on this planet, and know that some of them are deserving of a second chance too.
What a farce.
Mandatory minimums require fixed prison sentences for certain crimes. John Oliver explains why we treat some turkeys better than most low-level offenders. Co...
8 people like this
7 responses
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
27 Nov 15
The people who were given fifty years in prison for minor offenses, yes. Most of these sentences were the definition of cruel and unusual.
5 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
27 Nov 15
@jaboUK - Nope. Just the ones who shouldn't be there. That would be more than enough.
3 people like this
@Inlemay (17712)
• South Africa
27 Nov 15
@troyburns I think everyone's punishment should fit the crime - that does not always happen. Criminals should not get off lightly
5 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
27 Nov 15
@salonga - I think there are many people in prison who shouldn't be there. The majority probably should be, but even if only a small percentage of the 9 million are undeserving, that's still a lot of mistakes or injustices.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238306)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Nov 15
@troyburns There are also a lot of people on probation or parole who commit murders. What's a common-sense "moderate" to do?
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
27 Nov 15
@TheHorse - You were doing very important work with these kids. Punishment often targets the person rather than the act, and that's not effective. Make people feel better, not worse, if you really want to reduce crime. By the way, have you read or seen any of Gary Slutkin's stuff on treating crime as if it were an infectious disease? It might be like some of the work you were doing.
@GreatMartin (23670)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
29 Nov 15
In Obama's defense he is doing everything he can to get people out of prison for minor offenses such as smoking pot--he is cutting back on the '3rd time and you're out' mandatory sentencing--also the President of the USA does not run the country and the laws--that is the job of the Congress and Supreme court.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
27 Nov 15
This is a sobering clip. I love John Oliver's perspective on things.
2 people like this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
27 Nov 15
@ElizabethWallace - I've downloaded quite a few of his bleeding heart liberal pinko communist rants with their annoying adherence to facts. Several are worth watching again and again - they're one of the best things on TV.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
27 Nov 15
@troyburns I agree completely. I was sad when he went to HBO, since I do not subscribe. But, I think I will subscribe to his YouTube channel, since it is free.
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
27 Nov 15
@just4him - That's a good mix, I think. You pay more attention to the message if you're being entertained at the same time.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Nov 15
@troyburns It was. I found myself laughing throughout.
@Auntylou (4262)
• Oxford, England
27 Nov 15
Is that figure of 2,250,000 prisoners in the US really true?
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
27 Nov 15
@Auntylou - Sadly,yes. The US has by far the highest incarceration rate in the world. This isn't fixing problems - it's closing your eyes and hoping they go away.
1 person likes this
@Auntylou (4262)
• Oxford, England
27 Nov 15
@troyburns Yes when I watched the video I saw that this was true.
It is one in a hundred American citizens . Crazy
