収束ゾーンでのライフ: Life in the Convergence Zone

*Totally* agree w/you about decriminalizing victimless/consensual crimes; that would be one of the *first* things we should do (if the public will was there, which alas I fear it ain't even close) to start un-bankrupting ourselves, even aside from the personal liberties issue (which to me is paramount in this instance).

My take on what to do w/prison populations is fairly complicated. In a nutshell, people should not be in there in the first place for drugs/prostitution/etc, but regardless of whether anything is done to change this, all the non-violent criminals should be kept segregated from the violent ones, and amongst the violent, those w/less time to go should be kept separate from those w/lots of time remaining, and those never to get out again further segregated. Likewise, for those in each of these blocs who behave themselves reasonably well, yes to helping them learn useful skills, if they are gonna get out again (tho I'm a firm believer in retribution as being an important part of the justice system, and I have nothing at all against letting some of them sit there and rot). In somewhat more detail, those prison gaurds I have spoken to agree w/me about this(tho has been since the 90's).

And lots of illegals get very good wages; some day laborers in better parts of LA won't work for less than $10 or even $15 an hour; many construction firms actually prefer to hire illegals because they've found them to be better workers, but still pay them the same (very good) wages as legal workers get, etc. I'm sure some are working for as little as $5 an hour, maybe less in cheaper parts of the country, but those I have known and occasionally worked with out here aren't doing that badly.

I think the gang membership issue may (I'm taking a wild guess here, correct me if I'm way off) be in large part due to lack of other opportunities for children who weren't born here, since even those who qualify for college scholarships and have been here since elementary school technically are illegal themselves, and generally face all sorts of (frequently insurmountable) hurdles to having a really good career, and I don't doubt they are aware of this, which will keep a lot from even trying the more conventional/safer route.