Some fun notes from my American Capitalism class. make of them what you will.
incarceration rates are skyrocketing at a time when violent crime and property crimes are on the decline.
100,000 people die of job-related problems each year, yet those business leaders who knowingly ignore OHSA (occupational health and safety association) standards receive almost no penalties
the punishment for posession of 5 grams of crack, a drug popular among poor people, is the same as the punishment for 500 grams of powdered cocaine, a drug more popular among the affluent.
african americans represent 35% of drug-related arrests. 55% of convictions, and 75% of those incarcerated for drug-related offenses
64% of crack cocaine users are white
94% of those incarcerated for crack offenses are black
there are 4 times as many young black males in prison as in college
unemployment rate is officially around 6%, but that only includes people who are out of work and actively seeking.
-it doesnt include part-time workers seeking fulltime jobs
-it doesnt include "discouraged workers", i.e. those who are out of work and have given up looking for work
-it doesnt include the 2 million americans in prison
Thus. the ACTUAL unemployment rate is about double that: 10-12%
This stuff gets depressing
incarceration rates are skyrocketing at a time when violent crime and property crimes are on the decline.
100,000 people die of job-related problems each year, yet those business leaders who knowingly ignore OHSA (occupational health and safety association) standards receive almost no penalties
the punishment for posession of 5 grams of crack, a drug popular among poor people, is the same as the punishment for 500 grams of powdered cocaine, a drug more popular among the affluent.
african americans represent 35% of drug-related arrests. 55% of convictions, and 75% of those incarcerated for drug-related offenses
64% of crack cocaine users are white
94% of those incarcerated for crack offenses are black
there are 4 times as many young black males in prison as in college
unemployment rate is officially around 6%, but that only includes people who are out of work and actively seeking.
-it doesnt include part-time workers seeking fulltime jobs
-it doesnt include "discouraged workers", i.e. those who are out of work and have given up looking for work
-it doesnt include the 2 million americans in prison
Thus. the ACTUAL unemployment rate is about double that: 10-12%
This stuff gets depressing