Theos-Talk Archives (November 2002 Message tt00379)

Steve Stubbs wrote:
> It was reported in the news one time that 25% of the black male
> population is in prison or has been in prison at any one time. 

I believe that includes ones who were merely arrested, and have no
criminal record. It is interesting that, in the Watergate Tapes, it was
revealed that Nixon believed that the gun control laws and the drug
laws, in combination, would eventually eliminate the Blacks as a voting
block, because they would ensure that most blacks would be rendered
ineligible to vote. 

> model.) I am not sure I agree, but a s a philosopher I believe ideas
> which radically challenge commonly accepted prejudices have great
> value in shaking us out of routine ways of thinking. 

I, on the other hand, prefer calling bullshit bullshit. 

> One other idea that has been
> floated which is less outrageous and has considerable merit is that
> the congress, determing that blacks favor crack cocaine whereas their
> sons and daughters favor the powdered form of the same drug, passed
> Draconian laws against crack while leaving penalties for use or
> possession of powdered cocaine relatively mild. 

Oh, the drug laws are VERY definitely targeted against minority groups. 

> A fellow was featured on 60 MINUTES a few
> months ago who was not wealthy and who was sentenced to life for
> stealing a jelly doughnut.

Let's be more specific. He was sentenced for life because, in spite of
being jailed several times in the past, he refused to give up crime. He
knew damned well that if he got caught again in any crime, he would go
to jail for life. 

Bart Lidofsky