[statecom-discuss] Fwd: No Fees on Offenders

Sat Feb 3 21:52:43 EST 2007

Who was it who said?, "Think and act locally and globally."

I would like this to be one of our GRP mottos.

Mike Heichman

BillCunningham wrote:

>Hi email fans,
>
>The Bridge tries to cover most of the issues Betty mentions. Those and other issues live simultaneously in four or five dimensions, from neighborhood to international. So articles focusing on Palestine, for example, will generally have a more than superficial "local news angle." 
>
>Our Mystic local has developed informal relations with SHaRC and Jericho Boston, local prisoners rights groups. (Check out  www.Bridgenews.org  keywords prisons and police.) Grace's campaign also developed such relations.
>
>BTW, Governor Patrick has said TWO things about prisoners. (1) He wants to charge inmates a fee to pay for more cops. (2) He intends to cross-reference databases so that as inmates become eligible for release, they will be promptly deported to their countries of origin whenever possible.
>
>Sadly, state and local issues can be just as contentious as international. For example, GRP has a distinctive housing position—for rent control. I didn't notice we raised that in the election.
>
>The bipartisan "War on Drugs" has been the key to quadrupling the prison population. A state or a national issue? Let GRP start a campaign to legalize drugs, and watch the crap fly both amongst and against the Party. 
>
>Not all issues are "issues." Not to put too fine a point on it, we couldn't sharply criticize candidate Patrick because he was an African American so-called liberal. Our friends would be appalled! First Israel—or Gore—and now Deval! 
>
>Ole Uncle Slammer snows the rubes just one more time, with the latest "Working Class Hero" who's "learned how to smile as he kills."  Fun to hum along with John Lennon, but to fill in the names locally, here and now? Not fun.
>
>Palestine and The War—a local issue: every village and neighborhood pays in blood and treasure. Anti-Arab racism—a local issue; the bipartisan "War on Terror," the long night of human rights and freedom—local right down to the unanimous resolutions of the oh-so-progressive Cambridge City Council,—local right down to the widow going mad in her lonely room; and our SACRED DUTY is to confront it squarely and figure out how to bring it down.
>
>The ecological crisis—utterly local and utterly global. All things are connected. That is our message. 
>
>The "Ashley Case" raises questions that we must be willing to confront, if GRP is to develop a political strategy worthy of the name. The rights of the voiceless, the right and duties of the family, the role of media in defining issues, the worship of technology and its priesthood, the technicized professions. 
>
>Frankly, I am pleased with this discussion, although it has been a little narow. At least it's really about people and politics for a change, and not just about process. Oh sure, it's aggravating too, it goes on and on. Sometimes I just want to chuck it with all the emails.... But at least we're not in Fallujah.
>
>I agree that the most important issues for us are the most local ones, but ONLY because we can organize most effectively at the local level.  
>
>So far we organize almost entirely in the electoral arena. They don't call it an arena for nothing. We can win some games in that arena, but to change the world, we have to go out where the real world is. The question of local versus international is much less important to me than the kind of organizing we have to do. The primary "issue" is not issues; it is organization. 
>
>harrumphh....
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>  
>
>>From: "Betty H. Zisk" <zisk at bu.edu>
>>Sent: Feb 2, 2007 3:10 PM
>>To: Discussion List for StateCom members <statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org>
>>Subject: RE: [statecom-discuss] Fwd: No Fees on Offenders
>>
>>Here is finally a position with which I can agree wnoleheartedly. Perhaps
>>because I know the inmates' dependence on outside support and the poor
>>families trying to support them against all odds. I speak from two yr's
>>experience having ccordinated the Alternatives to Violence program in
>>Norfolk, before Weld shut it down; and alas a four year relationship
>>following that, with a man serving a life sentence at Norfolk (okay you
>>didnt know this about me). I essentially supported him to the tune of more
>>than $100 a month during those yrs because his family couldnt. (Yes I still
>>care--but relationship ended when the threat of strip searches for me became
>>all pervasive.)  This fee is an outrage because it is levied on those
>>families who are quite poor to begin with.
>>
>>I realize that prisoners rights arent a sexy or urgent topic right now.
>>After all, they are behind bars for a reason, etc etc. A few organizations
>>like the Legal Services group and the AFSC are behind this cause (on very
>>minimal basis because of budget constraints.)I support those efforts from a
>>budget stretched thin on so many efforts.
>>
>>I wld like to suggest, in the mildest possible way, that we try very hard to
>>stick to local or regional issues when we take a stand. I would like to
>>suggest as well that when our national GPUS has taken a stand on foreign
>>policy we support them rather than taking our own stand--unless for urgent
>>reasons we disagree with them.Maybe Elie and Jamie could print a summary of
>>GPUS stands to help us along.
>>
>>I find plenty to criticize in Mass politics (and I am sure Grace can add
>>chapter and verse.) I could name about five issues that I think deserve a
>>lot of our attention: the lousy health care program that Romney proposed is
>>one; prisoners rights (and the terrible conditions at MCI Walpole in max
>>security) is another. Lack of affordable housing statewide is a third. And I
>>guess my fourth and fifth would have to do with ecology--for example
>>overfishing and the resultant deaths (two boats lost lately) because of the
>>pressure to get it fast, regardless of safety. And (#5) the continuing
>>pollution of our outmoded plants. I realize all of these are tame issues in
>>comparison with stopping the war or issues about Palestine. But please note
>>that they are all local. We seem to have forgotten that.
>>
>>Please I dont want to demean anyone working on other issues. But I urgently
>>suggest that we start with local issues. And I urge the AdCom to take a
>>stand on prisoners rights just for starters.
>>
>>I am slowly getting back into shape. I will be glad to help wth drafting a
>>few statements if that will help--I just cant attend mtgs right now. With
>>respect--for all that Statecomm has done, and all of the mediating efforts
>>that people like Grace and Jill have tried. I love the GRP and I dont want
>>to leave it. I hope and pray that we can keep on track. And this isnt meant
>>to stifle opinions. I was a proudcarryng member of ACLU long before Mike
>>Dukakis was hesitant about admitting his membership. Poor Mike. I am glad I
>>never ran for office) Betts Zisk (the longest statement you will ever hear
>>    
>>
>>from me).
>  
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: statecom-discuss-bounces at green-rainbow.org
>>[mailto:statecom-discuss-bounces at green-rainbow.org]On Behalf Of
>>Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
>>Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 2:10 PM
>>To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>>Subject: [statecom-discuss] Fwd: No Fees on Offenders
>>
>>
>>Wow, the things that happen that ouodn't hear about because you go away!
>>See below and then google "Patrick safety fees" if you want to read the
>>press
>>coverage at the time...
>>
>>I don't know how much people are following developments with the new
>>adminstration but Patrick has pretty consistently proposed regressive
>>taxes - this is
>>certainly yet another one.
>>
>>And what is the appeal of another fee on those who get convicted?
>>Overwhelming low-income folks, overwhelmingly people of color?   Given that
>>white
>>collar crime is rarely prosecuted, this just continues the criminal justice
>>system's bias.
>>
>>but what I really find staggering is that the only appeal I see here is the
>>right wing tough-on-crime = people of color as criminals subtext.   didn't
>>we
>>just hear all this outrage when Healey used that angle to try to win an
>>election?   But it's okay as the basis of tax/fee policy?
>>
>>Love, grace
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>statecom-discuss mailing list
>>statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>>http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
>>    
>>
>
>
>Bill Cunningham
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