Here is picture that sums up much that is wrong with American politics. Five governors of California, Democrats and Republicans, joining forces to oppose something that is indisputably in the public interest.
This is an image that could be repeated, with different faces, in region after region of our country, involving issue after issue. Public officials standing against the public good, with the disastrous results on display from Detroit to Wall Street. All suffering from the same destructive force: the power of entrenched special interests to cloud the vision of our leaders, causing them to thwart good sense, good legislation, and the will of the people.
In today's version, we have Jerry Brown, Pete Wilson, Gray Davis, George Deukmejian, and Arnold Schwarzenegger coming together to oppose Prop 5, a common sense ballot initiative that seeks to effectively and intelligently tackle the chronic problems facing California's deeply flawed criminal justice system.
California's prisons are a budget-busting debacle. There are currently more than 170,000 inmates crammed into prisons designed to hold 100,000 people. Around 70,000 of these prisoners are nonviolent offenders, with over half of them incarcerated for a drug offense.
A large part of the problem is a parole system the New York Times recently called "perhaps the most counterproductive and ill-conceived" in the U.S.. California's recidivism rate is 70 percent -- twice the national average. This stems in no small measure from the state's insistence on treating paroled murderers the same way as paroled nonviolent drug offenders. They all spend 3-5 years on parole. This overburdens parole officers, who end up spending very little time with any of their charges -- violent or nonviolent (According to the Times, 80 percent of California parolees have fewer than two 15-minute meetings with their parole officer per month.) Wouldn't it make more sense to keep a closer watch on rapists and killers than on nonviolent drug offenders?
As a result of this dysfunctional system, prison costs have risen 50 percent since 2000, to over $10 billion a year -- close to 10% of the state's budget (and roughly the same amount California spends on higher education). It costs $46,000 a year to keep a nonviolent prisoner in the state behind bars. Is it any wonder California is gushing red ink?
Enter Prop 5, a ballot initiative that will reduce prison overcrowding, increase public safety, cut costs, expand drug treatment programs inside California's prisons, and start the state's first drug treatment program for at-risk youth.
Prop 5 is structured to build on the proven success of Prop 36, a law promoting drug treatment over incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders. It was approved by 61 percent of California voters in 2000, despite almost unanimous opposition from public officials. Since being enacted, Prop 36 has saved California taxpayers $2 billion -- and graduated 84,000 people who, according to studies, are far less likely to become repeat offenders.
"Prop 5 finally addresses the twin tragedy of crushing prison costs on society and the revolving trapdoor of incarceration that stems from locking up too many nonviolent offenders," filmmaker Gabriel London, who has documented the state of our prisons, told me.
Given all this, and the fact that a majority of the public favors low-cost treatment models over the high-cost incarceration model, passage of Prop 5 would seem like a no-brainer. Especially given its support from a wide-range of drug treatment professionals, good government advocates, and clearly-not-soft-on-crime law enforcement types such as former San Quentin warden Jeanne Woodford who, blogging on HuffPost, wrote of Prop 5:
Prop 5 may well be California's last chance to bring about a solution to the many, intertwined problems in our criminal justice system... Incarceration of non-serious non violent drug offenders does not improve public safety. Treatment and accountability do. Prop 5 provides treatment and accountability. It is accountability for the drug user, the prison system, treatment providers, probation departments and the courts.
Yet Prop 5 is struggling because of a very powerful special interest: the prison guards union. It has funneled $1.8 million into the campaign to derail Prop 5.
For the guards, prison overcrowding means more overtime pay. So the state's prison industrial complex has unleashed the full force of its financial power -- funding an array of ads that blatantly mischaracterize Prop 5. Truth has gone out the window, replaced by overheated claims that the initiative is a "drug dealer's bill of rights," "a get out of jail free card" for meth dealers, and a law that will allow parents to abuse their kids and escape punishment.
Goodbye reform, hello fear. The special interests are, once again, overwhelming the public interest.
And, sadly, many politicians, many on the receiving end of prison guard contributions, have fallen in line. As Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, deputy campaign manager for Yes On 5, puts it: "The prison guards hold the keys to the California statehouse, so it's not a surprise that those thinking of running for governor in 2010, like Jerry Brown, Diane Feinstein, and even Meg Whitman, have come out against Prop 5." (Here's Daniel Abrahamson, co-author of Prop 5, on his dealings with Jerry Brown.)
The truly disturbing thing about their opposition to Prop 5 is that not one of them -- nor any of the governors at today's photo op -- has stepped forward with an alternate solution to the undeniable criminal justice crisis California is facing. A crisis so pressing that, if Prop 5 doesn't pass, in all likelihood the federal courts will step in. On November 17, a three-judge panel will consider putting California's entire prison system under federal control -- a move that could require the state to spend an additional $8 billion to bring the system up to constitutional standards.
So to review: Prop 5 follows a successful model, will lessen over-crowding, will save a cash-strapped state billions, will reform a "counterproductive and ill-conceived" parole system, and will shift criminal justice dollars from incarceration to treatment -- an effective approach favored by a majority of the public. Yet our leaders are opposing it, without offering any alternatives.
The drug war continues to be an electrified third rail in American politics. And political money continues to be a roadblock to real reform.
Don't believe the hype. Don't allow a sensible solution to be drowned by a torrent of money.
Vote Yes on Prop 5.
If you are in the San Francisco area, I will be speaking at the Web 2.0 Summit on Friday, November 7th.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
Primative creatures with their own addictions putting 1st time pot offenders in jail while Arnold being the poster boy for sterhoids. We will self implode if we do'nt get some honest people back into government like Ron Paul & Dennis Kucinich. I'm one of the most honest & compassionate people I know, my Uncle's .word is his bond. I do'nt trust anyone else in my family. Bring out all the honest, loving, intelligent, educated, compassionate people you know everywhere & let's create another government of the people, by the people & of the people...
I bet Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich & Bernie Sanders would be glad to help. We must get rid of Pelosi, she was Bush & Cheney's enabler.
Emmory - you are not only clueless, you are hopeless as well.
You remind me of the quote "We fear things in proportion to our ignorance of them."
I know lots of prison guards who understand that prisons are overcrowded with people who need treatment and not prison. But, there are also a lot of prison guards who are biased because their jobs depend on the drug war to pave the way for building more prisons that create a stronger union.
I know a lot of prison guards because I was in prison and if it weren't for President Clinton I'd be in prison today. Clinton pardoned over 30 federal prisoners convicted of drug conspiracy and NOT ONE returned to prison (that i know of). Instead of sucking up your tax dollars, I now earn money, pay taxes, spend at the stores and support our lagging economy. If it were left up to you, we'd still be building prisons to house bootleggers and dealing with the violence from the Al Capones. Go to the LEAP website and read what law enforcement says about the drug war. Maybe that will convince you.
Emmory, unless you've been to prison, you truly have no idea who is in there. So don't assume you do.
Perhaps one “part” of an alternative larger plan will be making it a crime for pharmaceutical companies to advertise and promote drugs, and, YES, even the over-the-counter drugs.
This society pushes pills and drugs to solve all our ills… can’t poop, take a pill, poop to much, take a pill, got an ache, take a pill, got heartburn, take a pill, can’t sleep, take a pill, can’t get it up, take a pill, can’t handle PMS, take a pill, don’t eat healthy foods, take a pill or drink a special drink, feeling depressed, take a pill. Watched TV lately? What’s the message here? Shocking to see how many times in any given 24 hour period you see a commercial pushing pills and drugs to solve all your problems. If we can outlaw alcohol and tobacco commercials then we can outlaw advertising all these pharmaceutical drugs as well.
There are no shortcuts people!! Healthy societies, just like healthy bodies and minds take work and a will to make it happen. Where are all the celebrities willing to step up and set the example by glamorizing the real work it takes for healthy lifestyles? Where are the “healthy lifestyle” telethons?
I disagree with your suggestion that what we need is healthy lifestyle telethons. I suspect you would develop a cult following with most people tuning them out. I also disagree that it takes will power and celebrities pushing healthy lifestyle to make it happen. What we need is to get away from the celebrity mentality. Teach self reliance and healthy living at an early age. As it is people feel stressed to live up to and perform beyond their means. They are looking for something to give them an edge or to overcome their deficits. Pill bushing and pill popping has become a way of life simply because of our life style. Change the life style and you will change the need.
Just let them the heck out.
Where did you get that crazy idea from?
I've heard things of this nature before and it might sound hip but it just isn't true.
Talk to someone who works at a prison and see what they think.
These are by and large dangerous people we are talking about and they should be treated as such period.
Most families can't even talk sense into their own teenagers let alone expecting the prison system to somehow rehabilitate criminals.
Why is it the States job to see to it criminals stop being criminals?
Prison is a place for adult men and women who can't stop behaving like barbarians.
Fancy talk, feelings and wacky ideas won't change that.
Come home, have a beer, a martini, a joint, etc.
It has nothing to do with low self esteem for the vast, vast majority of users who are all "weekend warriors". They are otherwise functioning well adjusted individuals who like to alter their reality from time to time. They pay their bills, they own homes, work during the week, have marriages and families and are upstanding members of the community.
Yeah I know hard to believe after all the c rud we are handed in the media, but that is the way the real world of drug use in America is. It is the few who go overboard who manage to make the news and the news makes it always seem like they are on their last legs and that is the way ALL drug users are..
Not so and never was so.
I don't think a study of that nature has ever been done.
I think you should have a look at what sort of people are IN prison and then tell us which of them should be released early.
Rehabilitation for non-violent drug offenders, so they won't be treated like the prisoners you speak of--the ones who SHOULD be locked away. The cost and societal benefits are too big to ignore.
In other words, you have no idea what you're talking about.
It works. It works well. It makes sense.
We need common sense policies that are based on empirical research, not ones that are based on knee jerk "get tough" mentalities or re-election fears. All these "public servants" probably agree with the amendment in private. They're just scared to death of being seen as "soft on crime".
Quit being soft on the dealers and suppliers...open Alcatraz ...
Money talks and too many people get out of trouble instead of long prison sentences they deserve.
Stop the plea agreements. and stop giving probation...
There are more criminals on the streets who should be in jail then the ones locked up for a lot less.
The 3 strike law is a farce and puts people away for life who maybe stole some food or a pair of shoes.
Build a prison in the middle of the desert and put the crooked politicians and anybody working for
the system that takes bribes there for a long time.
Drug pushers intimidate kids. Then when they are hooked, they go into the crime scene to make
money for their drug habits.
The "war on drugs" has been on since 1968, that is 40 years and nothing has changed. Legalize and regulate the drugs, and overnight you wipe out all the crime and money. Take a fraction of the money wasted on enforcement and put it into treatment and research into ways to conquer addiction. Your ideas have been tried and have failed- get tough, longer sentencing, worse prisons, no probation, all this has been the national policy for 40 years and it doesn't work.
To get at the roots of crime means to take on the division between the haves and have nots. Can this be done without creating new class of haves under whatever system is devised? No.
Addiction, is it a genetic predisposition or is it some kind of escape from perceived wrongs done to the addicted? I don't know, ideally, the law should protect society from the often irrational behavior of the addicted from doing harm to others and him/her self. And how best to do that with mandates? Incarceration and mandated treatment are usually internalized as more wrongs done to the addicted.