From: 92price@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.politics
Subject: Rightist evasion/GB on abortion/prison
Date: 13 Aug 92 16:36:28 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

It's not exactly new information, but today on NPR someone from the Christian
Coalition was talking about how they were using LaRouchian political tactics,
"moving in under the cover of night," by hiding their true ultra-conservative
motivations from the voting public, until they are elected, and then "surprise!
you voted for me!".  This person said he felt promoting their authoritarian 
politics in this manner was not immoral (I would guess because they feel 
_their_ moral regulations would be enforced for _our_ own good, regardless of 
our opinion on the matter).

While Missy earlier did manage to express a pretty consistent pacifistic
viewpoint (admirable), lately she has been rather evasive about what _she_ 
thinks rights are and what _she_ thinks the law _ought_ to be on certain 
matters.  The rest of us can only wonder why.  ;)

*****

I consider my self to be, on a relative scale, rather tolerant and easy-going.
But if my kid came to me and said she was going to commit pre-meditated
murder on my grandson, I would do something more than just sit around and say I
didn't think it was a good idea.  People have already articulated things that
could be done legally to try and stop the murderous act.  But if my kid managed
to murder my grandson, I would not be so quick to forgive her and "help her get
back in the game"--get real.  If anti-choice people view abortion as murder, 
then they must be much more laid-back than they appear if they hold such a 
forgiving attittude--but I don't believe it.  I think what Bush and Quayle were
expressing is that abortion is _murder_ when they (us) do it, but only an
unfortunate decision when they do it.


*****

I am not so opposed to televisions, books, education, skill-training, jobs,
etc. for people in prison.  It seems to me that one reason people commit crimes
is that they have become so alienated from society that they have lost all
social ties to society and most of the motivation to obey it's laws (force,
though apparently ineffective, remains).  When you offer people a taste of
mainstream life (if you are in prison, it will never be more than a taste),
when you make them hungry for _that_, when you teach them how to achieve it,
you cause them, when released, to take on social ties (out of greed) that in
turn will prevent them from breaking laws (thereby, protecting society).  This 
idea is not perfect, but its a good place to start.  Also, when people are
acting cruelly, they tend to continue to act cruelly (this is not to say that
people can't change), and when people are pro-socially motivated, they also
tend to continue.  Allow people to learn to become positive and productive.

As to whether these things will make prison such a nice place, that it won't 
deter and might even attract criminals, well I have two observations: one, many
people want to go to jail just so they will have a safe, warm bed to sleep in 
and something to eat; and two, it is a shame that you conservatives don't 
realize that these things should be offered to people who aren't criminals 
too--you'd save yourself a whole lot of bucks (even if you offered them all 
full scholarships to college).

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I want to be sedated....                |                 Kai Alexis Price
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