From: harelb@math.cornell.edu (misc.activism.progressive co-moderator)
Subject: The Decline of America: "War" on Crime fights Constitution, not Crime
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: misc.activism.progressive on UseNet ; ACTIV-L@UMCVMB
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 15:59:36 GMT

The Decline of America: "War" on Crime fights Constitution, not Crime


An alternative vision:

    "Interestingly, the ACLU has found many strong allies on this issue
    among our nation's police chiefs. We are working to strengthen
    coalitions between the ACLU and progressive law enforcement
    officials, which we believe can help counter the opportunism of
    politicians."

    "Some of the proposals being developed include: vastly expanding
    programs for drug treatment and rehabilitation, using resources
    that are now being used to fund futile drug interdiction programs;
    putting more police visibly on the streets and expanding community
    programs that demonstrably improve street safety and the quality
    of neighborhood life; and urging elected officials to confront and
    address seriously the root causes of street crime -- inadequate
    public education, poor housing and joblessness."

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Last year the Bush Administration introduced a sweeping omnibus crime
bill that is more draconian and threatening to civil liberties than
any crime bill passed by the Senate in the past decade. And several
recent, startling Supreme Court decisions also permit obvious civil
liberties abuses by allowing harsh treatment of people convicted of --
or merely charged with -- crimes. Yet there is no evidence that such
measures reduce crime or enhance public safety.

In 1992, the ACLU will continue working to create effective approaches
to crime that do not undermine civil liberties, and will continue to
educate the public about the dangers of cynical election-year
responses to crime, in which constitutional rights are falsely
targeted as the cause.

Interestingly, the ACLU has found many strong allies on this issue
among our nation's police chiefs. We are working to strengthen
coalitions between the ACLU and progressive law enforcement officials,
which we believe can help counter the opportunism of politicians.

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S CRIME PACKAGE  After months of work, the
ACLU was able to modify the harsh package of anti-liberty legislation
introduced by the Bush Administration. So extreme was this package
that when it was being debated in the Senate, Senator Joseph "Biden,
head of the Judiciary Committee, exclaimed, "What is this Chamber
looking for? Blood dripping from the walls? ... Maybe we should have
the death penalty for jaywalkers!"

In the end, the entire so-called "crime" bill was killed by filibuster
in the Senate -- not because it was so appalling, _but_ _because_ _it_
_wasn't_ _harsh_ _enough_ _on_ _constitutional_ _rights_. It is now
clear how determined our opponent are to pass the most anti-liberty
crime bill possible during this presidential election year, when we
can expect more fear-mongering like the infamous "Willie Horton" ad
from the 1988 campaign.

During 1992, the ACLU will continue to provide expert technical
assistance and legal analysis to members of Congress who are opposed
to attacks on civil liberties that are disguised as responses to
crime. We will also continue our program to educate the public And we
will continue  to expose the hysterical folly of our government's
anti-drug policies.

NEW RESPONSES TO CRIME  The ACLU is now working with a task force of
nationally recognized experts on crimes, including police chiefs, to
create meaningful responses to the problems of crime and drugs that do
not threaten individual rights.

Some of the proposals being developed include: vastly expanding
programs for drug treatment and rehabilitation, using resources that
are now being used to fund futile drug interdiction programs; putting
more police visibly on the streets and expanding community programs
that demonstrably improve street safety and the quality of neighborhood
life; and urging elected officials to confront and address seriously
the root causes of street crime -- inadequate public education, poor
housing and joblessness.

--Excerpted from  _1992 WORKPLAN" of the American Civil Liberties
Union (ACLU), 132 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036-6599

For more information about the ACLU, use the GET command (see below)
on the file ACLU HISTORY which includes shocking background
information about the truth about the "Card-Carrying Member" attacks
by George Bush in '88; this is an '88 speech by Ira Glasser, National
Director of the ACLU, at the National Press Club

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