Our Justice System is Broken.
One out of every 100 Americans is behind bars. The U.S. spends $80 billion a year on incarceration. Seventy million Americans have a criminal record. In too many neighborhoods, young people of color are more likely to go to prison than college.
We have a critical moment of opportunity.
Members of Congress just announced the most comprehensive federal justice reform legislation to date! _The SAFE Justice act_ implements broad based, system-wide reforms to curtail over-criminalization, enhance rehabilitation, and support individuals’ re-entry into society.
Together, we can push Congress and President Obama to pass major legislation and get crucial bills signed into law by the end of 2015.
Join the thousands who have put their name onto this petition through JusticeReformNOW.org, Credo Action, and MoveOn.org!
Demand that Congress take action to roll back the incarceration industry in America.
This petition is led in partnership with #cut50’s #JusticeReformNOW campaign.
You have the power to create change.
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As you can imagine this is an issue near and dear to my heart. Please [sign the petition](http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/821/450/374/)and share with your network!
_Don E. Siegelman_
Governor of Alabama, 1999-2003
Lt. Governor, 1995-1999
Attorney general, 1987-1991
Secretary of State, 1979-1987
PO Box 5010
Oakdale, LA 71463
I’m going to be as honest as I can possibly be. I am not trying to get an internet war started. I’m not trying to disrespect Mr. Siegelman. I was not able to follow the case closely because I was busy fighting for my own life. A cousin with whom I am close gave me the Reader’s Digest version and tinks it was a set up. So we’ll roll with that. Politics is dirty. The party of your affiliation is no exception, whatever it is.
I will say this. I do believe in my heart of hearts, with no real reason other than it was the first thing that popped in my mind, if Mr. Siegelman was set up, it was as much a payback to the D’s for the Guy Hunt fiasco as anything. I know the facts of that case, because I personally knew his accountant and I knew enough about the AG. And the fact he managed to get Gene McKenzie (accountant) and a lady whose name I do not recall (a bank teller), the proverbial ham sandwiches, indicted, as well as Hunt. He went after Hunt first, knowing those were the only two people able to prove his innocence. Of course, any half way decent lawyer will advise the ham sandwiches to take the Fifth if they’re tried before the main target, because they have no idea what the prosecutor is up to.
He got Hunt convicted, because the other two ham sandwiches weren’t able to testify. As a matter of fact, he never even took them to trial. He simply let the statute of limitations expire. After Hunt testified, they could say whatever they wanted. They would have backed his story and that would be all she wrote. But by being the snake in the grass lawyer he was, all he wanted was for the first Republican governor since Reconstruction, 112 years of pure Democratic rule at all levels in the state, to get a stain and make the party look bad.
He did not win his bid for reelection. Jimmy Evans was the AD. I don’t know what he’s doing now, if he’s still alive. I thought it was rather poetic he was voted out, after winning the first election handily.
So I’m of the opinion Siegelman was probably railroaded. And I’m of the opinion Hunt was definitely railroaded. If those two statements are factual, I do not think they are totally unrelated. That’s not to say there wasn’t other issues at play, just that one of them was payback. I wish we didn’t even have political parties. No platforms on which you are forced to stand if you want to run for office. Everybody an independent, tell us what you’re about, give us convincing evidence of that fact, stop with all the pointless mudslinging, and just run your campaign on your stance on the issues of the day and let us do away with the complete and utter idiocy of supporting a party. Humanity is humanity. We all suck. Neither party is honest, and neither party gives a damn about you or me. I would like to think there may be a few exceptions, but few would be an understatement, I’m afraid.
I’m 53 years old. 53 1/2 if you ask any of the kids around here. That’s what I tell them when they ask me. I’m blessed to live in an area with plenty of children, so I keep those Freezer Pops on hand at all times. They call me the “Popsicle Man”. They give me reason to get out of bed. Kids are not like politicians. When they hug you and say they love you, they mean it. And the hugs ain’t no joke, man. They’re hard core for real legitimate choke out hugs.
The older kids, 21-25, give me a lot of hope for the future of the nation, if we don’t let it crumble before they get a chance. There are a great number in that age range who are exceptional people, as people go.
In the end, no political party or human ideology is going to help us. Because no matter what we do, sooner or later, if we do in our own efforts, no matter how good our intentions, someone somewhere down the line is going to mess it up.
If the Governor was railroaded, I pray the truth will present itself and justice will be served to all involved.
Thanks for allowing me to rant.
Politics is a dirty business – you are so right there. The Justice Department could use a little work as well. Thanks for saying your piece.