One of the most respected think tanks in America has weighed in on prisons, budgets along with the staffed, safe and sober house issue. Fascinating piece, and you know where I stand. Take time to read and then respond, if you would. At what point do you think our current path deserves a 2nd or 3rd look?
Right from their about section – "The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and stimulate civic life."
Now I try to walk with a higher power than knowledge -> Veritas vos liberabit
Please read the whole article and Conicio Mihi Ossis
On November 22, 1963 J.F. Kennedy was killed.It was also the day C.S. Lewis and Aldous Huxley died.Come listen to some of the greatest voices of the last century discuss questions we have all considered in the darkest recesses of our minds.
(This next week marks the completion of two full years of operation for a business I founded that provides housing and treatment for ex-addicts, who most often are also ex-inmates. My blog posting today is not an official statement by our company. Instead it's just a personal reflection and possible recommendation by me.)
During these last two years the issue of staffed, safe and sober houses came to the forefront of Idahoan's concerns, as it should have. The aftercare treatment of ex-addicts (who, in MANY cases, are ex-inmates) was examined in a series of television/radio news stories and newspaper articles....almost ad nauseum to some folks, I'd bet. Sides were unfortunately chosen by default on an issue that is really ALL of our concern: prisoners being released back into society; afterall over 97% of all prisoners will be returned to society...it's just a matter of when and where. Eventually, this past year some short term mini-solutions were entered into by all sides; long term big-scale solutions, as well as litigation, remain in limbo at this writing.
However, Governor Butch Otter's Administration has shown itself to be one of the most forward thinking admins in America on this issue. He and his staff are commited to ensuring that Idahoans DO NOT bear the huge burden of billions of dollars for new prisons. He's to be commended for that. As Director Reinke has stated repeatedly: "We cannot build our way out of this problem." The Director is absolutely right.
Then, we have the Idaho House. The Speaker of the House, Rep Denney, often works side by side with the Governor's administration at pursuing visionary, out-of-the-box, non building-related spending solutions to overcrowding. The Pro-Tem of the Senate, Sen. Geddes, echoes that same concern.
So where's the problem? Why are we shipping inmates to states like Texas? Do we HAVE to do that? (Here's where the Progressive Conservative perspective kicks in...). My call is that a radical solution MUST come from the public opinion among Idahoans. We know that public opinion drives public policy...and we know that many, many Idaho Legislators live and breathe by the the subsequent shock-therapy that accompanies an awakend Idaho electorate.
If Idaho citizens want to lead the US in a forward thinking public policy to limit or eliminate overcrowding in prisons, then it is fully within our capabilities to do so.
My prison after-care model is only one attempt at solving this probelm. There may be many others that are, in fact, a better method. If so, then let's get on with it! The key is that no sons or daughters of Idaho should be sent to other states for "warehousing"...and in some cases, death. (See story below by Andrea Jackson).
With 1 out of every 100 Americans in jail or prison right now and by some estimates, 1 out of every 30+ adult Idahoans incarcerated,....we all have both a stake in the solution and, most probably, a family member or friend who is/was behind bars.
That's what I've learned in these past two years.
So, what's your pleasure, Idaho?
Den
------------------------
Families feel loss as out-of-state prison population grows
By Andrea Jackson Times-News writer
Pam Drashner visited her husband every weekend in prison, until she was turned away one day because he wasn't there. He had been quietly transferred from Boise to a private prison in Sayre, Okla.
She never saw him again.
In July, she went to the Post Office to pick up his ashes, mailed home in a box. He died of a traumatic brain injury in Oklahoma, allegedly assaulted by another inmate.
David Drashner was one of hundreds of male inmates Idaho authorities have sent to private prisons in other states. About 10 percent of Idaho's inmates are now out-of-state.
Saw a very interesting (and unscripted) interview between Bob Costas and President Bush at the Olympics. This topics of these short segments are near and dear to me.
Here's my call: for all the current hatred vomited against "W", we will one day look back and view him as a very close second to Harry Truman in trust. Nobody likes a street fighter...unless you need one on your side of the street.
"W" doesn't read the Post, could care less about MSN, ignores the opposition party and...as we used to say in the Army: he "drives on".
People hated President Truman. Now it's impossible to find an I-like-Ike button next to an I-hate-Harry one.
Get this, on September 2nd of 2006 we launched this blog with the following text:
What is "it"? There have been a lot of "its" in the past and many
quotes like "it's the economy stupid" and many others. For this website
the "it" for now is an attempt in fusing politics, culture, business,
personality, religion, you and me.
No longer will there be a perceived hidden agenda - you'll
get the straight scoop right here. There has never been a hidden agenda
in my life; I like to lay myself right out there. Along with some
friends there is a plan to bring many thoughts and plans to help
businesses succeed, to help people reach their true potential and see a
fusion of different perspectives become a stronger entity.
You'll see video, documents to download, links to other sites and
people that speak into this dream - hang on & hope you like "it"!
Well....it's been 23 months since that first post (and 50,000 pageviews later as well - we hit that today.)
I'm sure that's not a big deal for some folks, but on this blog, it's fun to see us tip the scales at 50,000. ( I think that's more than the total number of election votes I've ever received - tee hee)
We've had a bunch of posts and we'll have a bunch more....
Keep hangin' on...and thanks for joining us, lo these many , many days/weeks/months and now years.
Den
PS: Let me know which ones may have been "favorites", ok? I just may sprinkle this month of August with a few "Best Of's"
I don't often write on or speak about my years in California politics. It's just a position that I took when I moved to Idaho 18 years ago. Nobody wants to listen to a new kid moving into a neighborhood who says "when I lived back in my old city, I did such and such..." Now is now, then is ...ancient history.
Dennis and Susan Mansfield, of old and ancient Californian days...
However, I came across an article in the NY Times by Samuel Freedman that made me reevaluate my position.
I've pasted the full article below for your reading, but wanted to give a brief preamble to the Times' article. Here now is the confession of a recovering Californian....
My first few years in politics were spent helping conservatives in LA county, notably David Dreier, of Covina, who was elected to US Congress. He lost in '78 and won in '80, becoming one of President Reagan's key Congressman (and an intial and influential supporter of Pres. Bush The First). He's served ever since. I continue to admire him greatly.
I was on the initial team in LA County helping Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann with Proposition 13.
In 1980, at 24 years of age, I ran for US Congress in CA's 36th CD, losing to a Religious Right candidate (how funny!)
In '82 I ran Bob Henly for State Assembly and through that experience, I met the GOP Assembly Minority Leader, Pat Nolan.
In '82 I became the Chief of Staff for newly-elected Assemblywoman Doris Allen. It was in that position that I came face to face with Pat Nolan's group of elected tough guys who called themselves "The Cavemen" - because they did what they wanted to do by sheer power. Doris Allen was one of their "investments". She later was recalled from office as a political party traitor.
Nolan's Cavemen ethically travelled right next to "the line" and I did not like it. Because of my new-found faith in Christ, I initiated an investigation of them by CA's Fair Political Practices Commission, ultimately being fired from my Assembly staff position - because I was not a team player. That investigation went nowhere.
Pat Nolan, however, later went to Federal Prison on other charges...and I moved to Idaho.
After he served his time, Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship reached out to him; a change had occurred in Pat's life while in prison. This is how Pat told the NY Times: “I went into prison believing in God, and I came out knowing him,” he said. “I understood how much he loved us, even in a dark place.”
I heard of his change. About 9 years ago, Pat Nolan and I were reconnected at a public policy meeting in Colorado Springs. We hugged as only two brothers who had not seen each other for years could hug. It was quite amazing.
Today, all these years later, Pat Nolan provides an excellent example for me of the need to reach across idealogies and bringing people together.
I hope you enjoy reading this NY Times piece on Pat Nolan and Mark Early, former Attorney General of Virginia. Here's a sneak preview of Mr. Earley's transformation: "In those moments of recognition, Mr. Earley began a startling transformation from a tough-on-crime crusader to an advocate for prison reform and a prominent critic of the very type of drug laws he had formerly promoted".
Every Wednesday night a group of businessmen and I spend time with inmates - teaching, training and mentoring them at Ada County Jail.
Last night's "Band of Brothers" non-denominational service (sponsored by the Vineyard Boise) brought something culturally/theologically to the surface for me - especially juxtaposed to the Election night events, 24 hours before.
Here are some key points that sprang to mind:
Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney ran unopposed as a candidate Tuesday night for a very good reason - even the inmates in his jail respect him and honor his staff. I saw it in the faces of the men in our group last night. We talked of the honoring way in which Mr. Raney's Deputies treat them. Gary Raney is a quality man and a great public servent - his staff follows his example.
If only something like15% of the registered voters turned out to vote Tuesday, it is no wonder that easy knee-jerk solutions pop up amid the masses; things like "more prisons" flow from fear-based poorly educated groups - many of whom failed to even show up and vote. John Adams called it mob-ocracy, I think....
Incarceration for short term issues, often will work. Long-term sentences (especially for substance abuse) doesn't seem to work, without treatment. Treatment works.
The politics of fear, especially when applied to criminals and prisons, is hollow. Clanging cymbals and loud gongs...
The love of Christ penetrates the thickest of jail walls and the strongest of prison doors. Nothing else REALLY works. It's why Jesus came to the earth. (Read Isaiah 61:1)
Tuesday was a night of politicians. Wednesday was a night of felons. As I've said before...I think I "traded up"! Ha!
The Beatles may have had it right when they wrote of the local daily events of their English news, so many years ago. It's always so "local"....
I read the news today oh boy About a lucky man who made the grade And though the news was rather sad Well I just had to laugh...*
As you know, the song goes on to tell the tale of someone who lost hope and killed himself, sitting in his car. The very "normalcy" of people in each age who give up on life - who give up on hope for themselves and for others is more than "rather sad" as written by Lennon/McCartney.
As the transitional housing issue continues to cause ripples and waves, the greater question is begged: How is our state going to deal with it's unbeliveable incarceration "reality-statistics"? 1 out of every 34 or so Idahoans is in jail or prison. Think of that! More than just cursing the current solutions, why not enter into the constructive debate? What is good public policy on this issue?
Can we really afford to "build ourselves out of this" with new prisons?
(Silence)
Go online and see some bloggers comments, many anonymous critics and not a few people who seem to love "almost-hating" people (hmmm...like who? tee hee). All have opinions - which is good. The tenor often has the blade's edge, though. Often the opinions have no constructive alternative(s).
They really seem to be BLAHgers.
Instead of just complaining, other thoughtful folks in neighborhood associations are moving ahead with constructive dialog on the subject. This Thursday night at 7:00 At Whitney Baptist Church there's going to be discussion with people - all of whom are neighrbors of Boise. I'll be there. Hope you can attend, too.
Den
* Here's the rest of the "local stories" from the Liverpool of 50+ years ago.
The whole idea of Hillsdale College being a sort of Mecca for conservative college students - a sort of Harvard for the GOP - gives me the willies. I'm not completley sure why...
Maybe it's because when I receive the regular issue of Hillsdale's Imprimis magazine each speech featured within it seems to have a strident party-line to it. "Here's what good conservative GOPers think, Here's what bad liberal Dems think." It's a sort of Stepford Wife in-house organ for 1.5 million people each printing, it seems. Maybe I have it wrong, though.
And people seem to treat it like it's a convenient truth for them to enjoy. With just a few exceptions, I feel like I'm eating plastic fruit when I read it.
So...I "said so"....to a young up and coming journalist at the college's paper, Daniel Williams...and to Hillsdale's credit, they printed his piece.
Like William Wallace, I seem to have painted my face half blue and I'm goin' to pick a fight....
Young Daniel Williams had a hard-as-hell time finding a dissenting voice for his article (and had to settle for a Boise, ID blogger..tee hee). Why? Where are the passionate William Wallace-voices of faith who are sick and tired of conservative group-organs ignoring cries of the heart by faith-based folks - in favor of fairly heartless neo-conservatives? Hmmm...
Boy, do you think that'll get me invited to speak there? ha!
Keep your perspective: It's Friday, Sunday's a-comin. However hopeless you feel, know that we are TODAY living between the Friday of Christ's death and the Sunday of his resurrection. Listen and be encouraged. Happy Easter. Den
-------------------------------------- The Idaho Statesman allows readers to post comments at the end of their stories. This morning I posted the following comments at the end of a story on transitional housing.
"Thank you for your tip of the hat towards the supporters of New Hope,
but I'd be in error if I didn't set the record straight. Many fine
people have helped our communities prior to New Hope. Melanie Curtis's
SHIP program has operated quietly for years. House of Ruth has helped
the community for years, as well. There are 38 groups that are helping
reintegrate ex-addicts, through recovery programs and accountability,
back into society. New Hope's large-scale scope of desired impact
appears to be the main cause of concern. So be it.
I was a typical conservative Republican leader in the community for
years. Comments like "three strikes and you're out", "lock 'em up and
throw the key away", etc commonly fell from my lips. It was easy being
"strong" from a distance.
Austin Hill - The Reasoned Voice of Conservatives Nationally known speaker, author and radio personality, Austin Hill brings clarity to the confusion created by politicians, posers and power-brokers.
Chad Estes Chad Estes' blog: A journey from fear to love, from rules to relationship, and from religion to freedom.
Colin Mansfield Ground Shaking: the journey, thoughts, and musings of my son, Colin Mansfield.
From Vickie Holbrook - The Editor! Insightful, witty and contemporary postings from a professional newswoman and co-contributor to Austin Hill's "The Opinion Makers Showdown"..
Huckleberries Updates from North Idaho and Eastern Washington via the Spokesman Review's DFO. This is one of the MOST read political blogs in Idaho.
Idaho Chooses Life The leader of pro-life culture in Idaho, led by the only man who once fully supported the pro-choice movement. David Ripley's voice echoes with truth, judgement and mercy on behalf of the pre-born and helpless.
Idaho Conservative Blogger Like a looming dark knight figure from Gotham City, ICB sweeps onto the cityscape and spanks the goofballs, political hacks and wannabes. ICB is also featured on KIDO's website and is a co-contributor to Austin Hill's "The Opinion Makers Showdown".
Kevin Richert A blog from Kevin Richert: editorial page editor for the Idaho Statesman and co-contributor to Austin Hill's "The Opinion Makers Showdown".
Meg Roe My daughter's eclectic journey of life as a housewife and CIA operative.
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