Michael Jackson

Just read a press release from Michael Jackson's "Neverland" ranch. It's a bit confusing but it seems to say that Michael Jackson is suffering from a case of food poisoning. It was written that Mr. Jackson apparently became ill after consuming 10 year old weiners................(ba-dat-dat)

Not to sound synical, but money buys justice (and power, and influence, and favor).  The poor get an overworked public defender who will plead them out.  Someone with money hires an attorney who will fight for them...as long as the money holds out.  And I don't want to get on a soap-box here, but race plays a huge part as to who goes to prison.  The US Black population is about 12%, yet 44% of the prison population is black.  Depending on the state, a black man is between 20 and 57X more likeley to be convicted than a white man (this stat is drug related offenses only).

I think around 30% of our prison population is for drug related offenses--which differs dramaticly from the rest of the world.  We're the only industrialized country that treats drug adiction as criminal, rather than a health concern which exacerbates the problem.

One more thought about money--it's estimated that 12-15,000 people die in this country every year from preventable causes due to lack of adequate health care.  That's like four 911's every year...where is the outrage?  Could it be that the people who die are poor, that they don't have the same voice as someone with wealth that can contribute to someone's reelection campaign?

Anyway, we could go on all day about this.

I AM PUTTING THIS IN CHORDIE'S CHATCORNER.
If you see a movie, about PRISONERS, is it really THAT bad, like raping, attack other inmates.
Looking to our prisons, they seems to have still a life.
I know, this is a delicate subject, once out of prison, you come from a "facility" where you could be a well respected man, by violence or by wisdom. Sudden you are back on the street, and then: ??? If you were convicted for dealing dope, some of those guys had earned a fortune, and once you have the MONEY SMELL, it must be real hard to find a job.
It is like being "hospitalised for a drinking problem. When I was in hospital, on the same floor, no doors, if I wanted to have a smoke (bad habit I know, but there it is a form of a social life), I had to go 100 meter, to go for a chat/smoke. Most of people on Neurology are there because they got a stroke, so most of them didn't leave their room. I joined the psychiatric side, they had activities organised by nurses, like a quiz, or a card game. I never tell what my occupation is/was, but if they ask me, I am not a liar. These people are also smart enough to see that I am stupid enough, to answer a question. THERE too, you will see an hierarchy. At first some were afraid to loose their position, nut that, easy to solve. I just noticed that those people feel better in the smoking room, more open not difficult if you see your shrink once in a week for 30 minutes.