[Thanos]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

haven't seen the new one. If your woody factor is taken out of the equation, is it still worth seeing?

It's on the must-see list. From reputable sources it's a massive improvement over the Stallone version, on a par with how the 2003 Battlestar Galactica made the 1978 original look like a punching bag.

Between Ma-Ma and Cersei on GOT, Headey's kind of redefining the female villain role all on her own.

[OnTheIce]

RUEZ RUEZ:

The thing is, the courts are responsible for sending people to prisons, not the private company. The courts will never be run for profit and I fail to see how a private company is going to increase convictions.

But that's not how people think (On here, especially).

It's not about the financial savings or the quality of the work being done, it's about "what's the worst case scenario" and let's start there.

Because somewhere at sometime, a prison system went bad during privatization and that seems to negate any positive outcomes at other facilities.

If there is actually cost savings to be had, it should be considered. If there is only a very minimal gain, it wouldn't be worth it IMO.

[andyt]

CanadianJeff CanadianJeff:

andy the reason I'd like to see it succeed privately is that I don't like big government. The less reliance there is on the taxpayer to fund society the better.

If we could turn a good deal of public deficit into GDP the better our lifestyles and the economy.

The major difference I have with most conservatives boils down to a lack of willingness to "throw people under the bus" as I see it. Some programs and services are needed to ensure no one is left in a world of poverty and disease without making it attractive enough that anyone would consider welfare an acceptable state to go through their own life with.

That and I don't think it's ever governments place to put social policy into law. Social policy should be decided by the people in everyday interaction with one another. The only time government should ever get involved is to protect the freedoms of our charter for everyone. One example would be ensuring the freedom for gay people to openly associate with one another including the association of marriage.

As for what services need to remain in place and be government run is a huge and important area of debate.

Hope that makes my position a bit clearer.

Govt spending is part of GDP just as much as private.

My suggestion was for a pilot project. See if there is some good to be had by allowing groups with new ideas in. You don't need to build a whole new prison for that, then be stuck with it if things work out. My experience here in BC with PPPs is that they just as often cost the govt more money in the end, since financing costs are higher and the private company is trying to make a profit. The govt likes them because it allows them to hide the debt for a while, but in the end they still have to pay for it.

There are many things that private industry does better - private industry. Contracting to the govt isn't private, since the money paying for it isn't private.

[Benn]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Curtman Curtman:

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

If a company can step in and do a good job while saving money, there's no issue here.

Yes there is damnit!

$1:

The modern private prison business first emerged and established itself publicly in 1984 when the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) was awarded a contract to take over a facility in Hamilton County, Tennessee. This marked the first time that any government in the country had contracted out the complete operation of a jail to a private operator

Dumb on crime.

And that relates to the topic of private jails how?

Because Corrections Corp Of America (CCA) and Management and Training Corporation (MTC) want to make money and the best way is to increase demand. They have helped this by providing a strong lobby for any bill that will see more people put in jail in the US regardless of how stupid it is. More bodies in jail = more money.

This issue is they are starting to get some heat in the States due to a whole number of problems and some states (Florida I believe) are looking at not signing any more contracts with them, just like Ontario did under a decade ago when a MTC jail flunked a 3rd party audit of its operations and success. Seeing their market drying up they are pro-actively looking to new ones who are too stupid to know its a mistake.

Do you want prisons who have managers with under 5 years experience due to 60-80% turn over rates?? CCA has that and one of them was killed a few months ago because he did not know how to handle a dispute in a MINIMUM security immigration holding jail.

I'm not sure how sub contracting out some jail services would work in our jail. I don't see any private company undercutting the present system where inmates to the cleaning, laundry, and cooking for under $5.00 A DAY / inmate.

[Benn]

RUEZ RUEZ:

Gunnair Gunnair:

No, the leftie remark was for Canadian Patriot who came in to dumb down thendiscussion to a measure of political hackery if one opposed it.

On the surface of it, I can see an argument to be made for the private sector as they may indeed cut costs and waste. However, they also need to make money, and the commodity in this case is criminals. One needs criminals to make money and one can see that more criminals simply makes more money.

Simplistic yes, but I think truthful as well.

The thing is, the courts are responsible for sending people to prisons, not the private company. The courts will never be run for profit and I fail to see how a private company is going to increase convictions.

Helping Lobby for mandatory minimums for one. Take the discretion out of the judges hands. Plus um, there is the fact Judges are elected in the US and they need to raise money to run for election. I'm sure the benefactor of rulings would never donate to judges campaigns....

As far as lobbying in Canada it already happens. Yes it's harder than in the US where politician often make more only from lobbyists cash than their salary but here it is more in the subtle form of golf memberships, sports tickets, cheap vacations and hotels etc. Those things you don't have to clam on your tax forms.

[Prof_Chomsky]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

I've never been a huge fan of the idea of a Corrections Corp. because of the risk of cutting corners and underpaid guards being even more open to corruption. I've always felt that prisons should help pay for themselves either by being 'correctional....dare i risk it ...communes. These would truly be places of restitution and rehabilitation for those who are deserving of the chance. Any number of industries the correctional service requires, to make it self sufficient to a degree, be it garment factories, quarries, farms(meat, dairy, fruit, vegetable and grain) or lumber mills. Prisoners are trained, work for their keep and privileges. Different institutions would supply the others with what is needed. Surplus, either product or profit made from selling surplus product is reinvested into the system...or goes towards victims and their families. Prisoners are given a trade, educated and socialized.

The concrete castles are reserved for the hard cases that pose a serious threat to society and other prisoners.