Two of us have presented real world evidence, plus there’s the very obvious and well known human response to unpleasant or irritating stimuli, which often goes by the name of “avoidance.”
Admittedly there are a lot of societal and enviornmental factors coming into play regarding a prisoner’s background and home life that encourage recidivism. Arpaio can’t overcome everything that might drive a person back into criminal behavior.
But the fact of the matter is that the statistics you people are clinging to like liferafts in an ocean storm measure Maricopa county’s recidivism rate over a period of from 17 to 20 years ago. Arpaio’s methods have changed since then and so has the notoriety and reputation of his jail. So we don’t really know what the current rate of recidivism is and so we can’t say for a fact that it’s ineffective. What we can say is that our common sense and experience as human beings tell us that if we find something objectionable enough we take pains to avoid it. (How much sour milk do you drink? How quickly would you change the channel if an Anne Murray music infomercial came on? :D)
Another factor to consider is how many people avoid breaking the law in the first place due to fear of winding up in Arpaio’s jail. I’d be willing to bet there’s a hell of a lot less ignoring of traffic tickets, drunk driving and petty crime than there would be were Arpaio’s jail not so notorious for its conditions. Everyone in Maricopa County knows about it and you can bet they take pains to avoid going there. So do anyway, but until you can accurately measure their number vs. how many would be getting arrested were a more typical jail in place you can’t really claim Arpaio’s jail is ineffective in this way either.
And now kids we come to that inevitable part of the day when real life intrudes on our fun and I must leave you for a while.
Bike rides are in the offing for one thing - I must keep myself healthy so as to keep fighting the good fight - and there are errands to run and things which require attention. So for now I must bid you adieu.
Maybe I’ll be back, maybe I won’t. But if I am, don’t hold it against me [Robin ;)].
This is a silly, stupid thing you’ve said, and here’s why. Your fellow conservative James Inhofe says global warming cannot be happening because his invisible childhood friend promised there’d be no more widespread flooding. Another of your kind, the Texan Rick Perry, says the earth is around 4000 years old. It’s silly and stupid to claim that conservatives hold a reality-based outlook.
As for the philosophy part, I give you the theory of trickle-down economics. You can have it.
When the boys on the cell block (tent camp?) started calling him Brawny White and demonstrating all the ways a paper towel tube can be positioned, the guards and moldy sandwiches would be among the least of his concerns.
Agree. He should have them all fucking a Paper Towel Tube[sup]®[/sup] with their pink underwear down by their ankles – and perhaps carry it live on PPV.
That ought to fix 'em.
ETA: Paterno, Zimmerman and now, Arpaio. Must admit, you sure know how to pick your ‘friends.’
I snipped this part because it makes my point. For people who have not been convicted of a crime, or convicted of minor misdemeanors Arpaio PURPOSEFULLY irritates these people (with the moldy food, pink underwear, and living in tents).
If I’m arrested and charged with say, cocaine possession, and can’t make bond, Arpaio’s only job is to keep me in custody until my trial. If I have to be double bunked in a small cell, well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles because the county only has so much money.
But to fuck with me deliberately by making me watch the Disney Channel, listen to Sinatra music while I wear pink underwear and live in a tent in 120 degree weather and eat moldy 20 cents per meal food? That’s unnecessary taunting bullshit. 20 cents X 3 X 30. $18.00 per month. Okay, say Joe has a quantity discount and I’ll double it for you.
SA, try to feed yourself on $36.00 per month and come back to me in 30 days and tell me you aren’t starving to death. And this is for simply being accused of a crime or committing a misdemeanor.
I support the death penalty, but not slow starvation for even murderers, let alone the accused..
