The U.S. has 5% of the world's population, but 25% of its prisoners. Land of the Free?

Question

55% of all federal, and over 20% of all state prisoners,
are convicted of drug law violations, many serving mandatory
minimum sentences for simple possession offenses . . .

David N, how does a bag of weed in your neighbor's home interfere with your free will?

To be fair, Maxx P, increasing the number of laws increases the chance to make a criminal mistake.

Strangely enough, more freedom equates to FEWER laws . . . and fewer inmates.

Drug possession/use is a victimless, non-violent behavior, and, therefore, should not be illegal.

david m: Aw, shucks. I got that off of the U.S. Mayors Conference website. Right there on page 49.

http://usmayors.org/75thAnnualMeeting/resolutions_full.pdf

Isn;t this a HELLUVA lot of fun.

Now, all of those mayors are anti-American right along with me. Neat, huh?

Answer 1

a better statistic is that the USA has 5% of the world's population, but uses more than 25% of the earth's resources.
americans are just so generous and thoughtful aren't they?
also, re: your statement...I don't know if the stats are accurate, but it is fact that vis. population %, the usa imprisons, executes more people every year than any other country (per pop'ln)...not too mention all of the prison camps around the world and spending 600 billion a year on its military in over 150 countries.
the world is depressing.
david m, how can anyone today NOT be anti-american (government) it's a global dictatorship/police force. nothing free about a country/government that tortures people and bombs/kills innocent civilians...and has been doing so ever since the firebombing of tokyo and nuking of hiro/nagasaki.
there's no reason, after the cold war...that the usa needed to build up its military even more...the cold war should have brought on a global demilitirization campaign...instead, the USA has used it to attain complete global domination.
disgusting.

Answer 2

Freedom comes at a cost. Instead of a centralized government taking care of you, the individual is responsible for their own behavior. Since they are responsible then that means they have to pay the price. The increase in freedom increases the chance to make a criminal mistake.

Another comparison could be the increased incarceration of women. It was relatively rare during th 50's when most women were not employed outside the home and had fewer freedoms. After women were granted freedoms their incarceration rate increased. Reason: the extra freedom allowed them extra criminal opportunities.

Answer 3

If what you're saying is true, it's a testament to our ability to capture and hold criminals. And by the way, alot of the world isn't as modernized as western culture, and don't have the ability to operate an effective police force.

So what country do you feel is the "Model" for police enforcement?

Edit: Oh I see, this is really about drugs. Well, why don't you ask your local ambulance company if you can go on a ride along and see how drugs REALLY effect your city?

No one gives an S about your two ounces of pot, and the people caught with it wouldn't do any time if they cooperated with the cops and handed over the dealer.

Answer 4

The justice system is not fair we know that, but few people are there who did not break the law. The population is unequal because the lack of access to quality representation.
The numbers of people in custody in many other country is because they don't go to prison, they are executed. It eliminates the numbers, and reduces the cost quickly.

Answer 5

85% of the prisoners of that 25% is black now look at Africa with the warlords and tyrants and 90% of them countries are ruled by native Africans if the 25% was free see what America would look like

Answer 6

I have always thought that to be bulls**t. Murderers, Rapists and child molestors are given less of a sentence than a drug dealer. It makes me sick to my stomach to see that a child molester is sitting out here with more rights than the average person and a guy caught with a bag of weed or something is still sitting in prison.

Answer 7

Another rant about "Drugs shouldn't be illegal". Well, welcome to the cold hard facts of life. They are illegal even if you don't agree with it. In some countries, illegal drug use is a crime to be executed for!
No one made these "25%' break the law, so if they are in prison, its there own choice that got them there!.

Answer 8

US is not land of the free because there are many laws regulating the acts of the people.

Answer 9

Political prisoners of the Imperialism will be freed when the Revolution crushes the capitalist machine!

Answer 10

Where did you get that statistic from - absolutely ridiculous!!

It is well known on here for people to quote such silly things without reference to their so called sources.

Many countries have bursting prisons. Many countries execute many of their prisoners.

So try again - you are obviously an anti-American!!!!