Do you play in a Police State?

Subject: RE: Do you play in a Police State?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 06:34 AM

I think this forum aims at being a bit better than a chat room, Little Hawk.*BG* But whatever it is, I'm glad you're in it. I'm ashamed to say I haven't heard, and din't know about that song, though I've read "Bury my heart..." which I believe came much later? First I heard of Buffy, she was heading the line-up at a folk festival in Lincolnshire around 1971 and we all thought "How can someone so unknown be topping such an impressive bill?" Until we heard her, that is.

Subject: RE: Do you play in a Police State?
From: Lox
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 06:14 AM

I didn't have time to read all the responses to this thread, and I went on holiday 2 days after joining the "cafe" so I hope this point isn't redundant, but:

Does anyone have an opinion on the "Prison industrial complex" i.e private prisons that make a profit hand in hand with big companies like "TWA" off the backs of prison labour.

It seems to me that this is an excuse for institutionalized slavery.

Combined with the "three strikes your out" law enforcement policies that exist, (where people can get jail terms of 25 years for nicking a slice of pizza) It could be argued that some of us do live in a police state.

As for what to do about it;- powerful companies only flourish because we buy their products. find out who they are and make a decision to boycott them.

There's nothing wrong with knowing whats going on and sharing your knowledge. Folk music is often about struggle, but it doesn't solve problems, it just explains them in a succinct attention grabbing way.

Knowledge and debate make us strong.

Subject: RE: Do you play in a Police State?
From: Lox
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 06:25 AM

Oh yeah! I forgot!

How did they get away with the Rodney king affair?

And what is "Mumia Abu Jamal" doing on death Row, why isn't he allowed interviews, and why is he being refused access to legal counsel. Could it be because he discovered police corruption, and being a radio journalist ........

You fill in the blanks.

Subject: RE: Do you play in a Police State?
From: InOBU
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 06:38 AM

LOX!
Bravo old skin!
I used the same example of strike breaking and slavery in the private prisons on a friend a few months ago, who just got out of prison. He is a predicate offender, and if he goes up for something minor, he goes away for life. He was "in the park" which means alot on the lower east side, hanging out with the drug crowd. I told him that for generations we all fought together to end american slavery, and it is being restored through the prison system, and that his part of the fight, to not put the slave collar around his neck, was to get out of the old habits, and get straight. I told him he was playing the slave master's game, and the judge who was so stern with him, was laughing at him behind his back. My wife told me the other day, she ran into him, working as a messinger, and trying to get back to his goal of going to Paralegal school. He told her, to tell me that he was avoiding the lower east side, for the reasons I had spoken to him about.
You are very right, I believe, that prisons are a growth industry in this nation. For anyone who wants to see this at work, rent Roger and Me from your vidio store (under documentry most likely).
As to political exicutions and police brutality. I also agree, things are much worce off than most of this country allows itself to acknowelge. Read the rest of the posts when you get the chance Lox, I think you may find them really interesting.
All the best
Larry

Subject: RE: Do you play in a Police State?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 11:26 AM

?City of Brotherly Love? (From today's BBC online):
Police in Philadelphia have arrested at least 282 demonstrators during violent protests aimed at disrupting the US Republican Party convention.

At least five police officers have been injured and 10 protesters charged with assault.

Despite unrest on the streets outside, however, the convention's second day went ahead as planned - with American military might the predominant theme.

Delegates were told that the party's presidential candidate, George W Bush, would, if elected, push ahead with America's controversial missile defence programme - despite Russian opposition to the plan and the reluctance of US allies.

"It is time to have a president devoted to a new nuclear strategy and to the deployment of effective missile defences at the earliest possible date," his foreign policy adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said.

Protesters defiant

Some delegates had trouble getting from their hotels to the convention centre.

The protesters linked arms at several intersections in central Philadelphia in an attempt to block traffic.

A police spokeswoman told the BBC that three police officers had been injured when an unidentified liquid was squirted in their eyes.

About 20 police cars and other vehicles were damaged.

Protesters have been claiming victory, accusing police of inciting violence.

"Overall, we feel we successfully accomplished our mission, which was to disrupt business as usual during the Republican convention," said Amadee Braxton of Philadelphia's Black Radical Congress.

Demonstrators have been trying to draw public attention to a range of issues including poverty, homelessness and the death penalty.

The clashes came after three days of largely peaceful protests, but organisers warned they would get more disruptive.

Republican show goes on

Opinion polls show the Mr Bush leading his far more experienced Democrat rival, Vice-President Al Gore, when it comes to being trusted with US security.

Ms Rice and the governor's defeated opponent in the primaries, former Vietnam veteran and current Arizona Senator John McCain, headed the list of Tuesday's speakers.

Ms Rice - who could become the nation's first black national security adviser if Mr Bush is elected - said he would pursue a policy of peace through strength.

Other speakers included former Gulf War General Norman Schwarzkopf, who addressed delegates via a satellite link from the battleship USS New Jersey.

He noted that Wednesday was the 10th anniversary of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, and said that President Clinton had neglected America's armed forces, casting doubt on their ability to carry out an operation similar to that which drove Iraqi troops from Kuwait.

Supporting minorities

The Republicans opened their convention promising support for America's ethnic minorities.

In the keynote speech, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell said Mr Bush could "help bridge" the country's racial divide.

For the first time, many Americans also had a chance to hear the views of Mr Bush's wife Laura.

She also took up the theme of inclusion, stressing the importance of early learning and childhood development programmes.

The Democrats hold their convention in Los Angeles in two weeks' time.
RtS