(Miscellaneous debris)

[Q.]

Probably one of the best pieces of journalism I've read all year and regards the philosophy of incarceration in Australia:

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/12/15/aboriginal-prison-rate-continues-to-rise-is-neoliberalism-at-play/

[Jimmy_041]

Good reply as well

CAPTAIN PLANET
Posted Thursday, 15 December 2011 at 4:15 pm | Permalink
Whilst mandatory sentencing, the NT intervention and expansion of police powers all qualify as racialisation of punishment, it does not follow that the over representation of indigenous people in prisons is entirely and solely caused by “racialisation of punishment”.

Many police, court and corrections personnel here in the North of Australia are heartily sick of arresting, trying, convicting and jailing indigenous people with monotonous regularity.

The fact is that you have to be tried and found guilty of a crime prior to being incarcerated. It is true that there is a racist bias within the laws and the manner in which they are applied in this country, and there is no doubt that this is a contributing factor to high indigenous incarceration rates. Politically incorrect as though it may be, however, I would suggest that the over representation of indigenous people in Australian jails is much more strongly attributable to the rate of criminality amongst the indigenous populace, than to racist police, judges and laws.

This is another issue, an intractable and controversial issue with devastating consequences for indigenous people and communities. Any well informed thinking person can easily see the link between indigenous disadvantage, historical dispossession, and criminality. I don’t have the answer for it, and successive state and federal governments have demonstrated their inability to effectively address this issue, too.

In observing the astonishingly disproportionate rates of indigenous incarceration in Australia, whilst maintaining a compassionate approach with an emphasis on harm minimisation and societal welfare, let us not ignore the elephant in the room: This problem will be best addressed by reducing the incidence of criminal activity amongst indigenous communities.

[Q.]

It took you less than five minutes to read that article?!

It is a good reply and I agree with it, except for the assertion that the journo made racialisation of punishment a sole attribution to over-representation.

[redandblack]

And an even better reply to that.

[i][b]@CAPTAIN PLANET - What you assert has nothing to do with political correctness - it’s just pure racism. If you maintain that the incidence of criminality is higher in aboriginal populations, you should provide stats to endorse that - you have not! The fact is, that what happens to aboriginal people in this country also happens to blacks in the US, or Canada or NZ - it’s brought about by the idea, the reality in fact, that ‘you get the justice you can afford to pay for’ in many cases. Aboriginal people get a custodial sentence for crimes that non-indigenous people get a warning, or community service etc. Racism knows no bounds. It was the police, judges, courts etc after white settlement who put aboriginal people in shackles, shot them or hung them - with impunity! Go and read some history! Go and talk to some aboriginal people. Find out how the women had to live decades ago, and how many are still discriminated/abused etc on a daily basis. How would you cope if your kids came home every day, angry and fuming due to racism at school or on the way home etc? It happens to too many kids - how do we then expect them to grow up straight, tall and proud - and functioning OK?

Question: Who has a better chance of avoiding prison: Eugene McGee or an indigenous unemployed person?

PS: I agree that the rate of criminality is no doubt higher in indigenous populations. The question that was ignored by 'Captain Planet' is, why?

[Q.]

I don't think he ignored it, the main reasons are obvious - "indigenous disadvantage & historical dispossession".

[redandblack]

Thanks, Q, quite right on a better reading.

My bad.

(You get a better class of comment on Crikey, too)

[Q.]

Thanks, Q, quite right on a better reading.

My bad.

(You get a better class of comment on Crikey, too)

Pretty even mix of opinions most times. Sometimes I love reading the debates more than the article.

[Jimmy_041]

Thanks, Q, quite right on a better reading.

My bad.

(You get a better class of comment on Crikey, too)

That's because you only read what you want to read - I saw it because I bothered to read it all without prejudice

Question: Who has a better chance of avoiding prison: Eugene McGee or an indigenous unemployed person?

and that is a ridiculous comparison.

Eugene McGee probably should have gone to jail but the Court thought otherwise - I may not agree with it, but that is our system.

How many people avoid jail due to their background or adverse upbringing?

[redandblack]

"That's because you only read what you want to read - I saw it because I bothered to read it all without prejudice"

If only I had your flawless wisdom, Jimmy.

How many people avoid jail due to their background or adverse upbringing?

An enormous number with a privileged background and very few with an underprivileged background, I'd say.

By the way, mate, I'd already acknowledged that I hadn't read it properly, so no real need for yet another personal attack.

[Jimmy_041]

"That's because you only read what you want to read - I saw it because I bothered to read it all without prejudice"

If only I had your flawless wisdom, Jimmy.

How many people avoid jail due to their background or adverse upbringing?

An enormous number with a privileged background and very few with an underprivileged background, I'd say.

By the way, mate, I'd already acknowledged that I hadn't read it properly, so no real need for yet another personal attack.

Sorry - I hadn't bothered to properly read your post

[redandblack]

[dedja]

About time these two got pulled up for belligerency ... this is what these two do every day.

LOL that this was for an interview with K-Fol who wrote the book on belligerency

belligerent duo

AUSTRALIA'S broadcasting watchdog has found ABC Adelaide presenters Matthew Abraham and David Bevan guilty of bias and using "loaded questions" and disparaging language" in an interview with former deputy premier Kevin Foley.

In a statement released today, the Australian Communications and Media Authority said the pair had "breached the impartiality requirements of the ABC code of practice" in the April 5 interview.

It is the first breach of the impartiality provisions of the ABC code of practice since 2004.

The interview followed a second alleged assault on Mr Foley in an Adelaide nightspot - Gouger St's Royale Bar.

"ACMA found that the presenters displayed fixed prejudgment on the topics discussed, asked loaded questions and used disparaging language," the statement said.

[redandblack]

Yes. Apart from being up themselves, they mistake rudeness for cleverness.

Their 'interview' and subsequent refusal to apologise to Foley fully deserved this ruling.

[Jimmy_041]

He could have hung up like he said he was going to

He'd rather have an argument with them

[redandblack]

Yes, Jimmy, it was his fault they're a couple of rude no-hopers with an agenda and a microphone.

[southee]

He could have hung up like he said he was going to

He'd rather have an argument with them

He should have hung up but to interview a guy allegedly assaulted the next day was in my mind....insane!!!

[Jimmy_041]

Foley rang them!

[southee]

Foley rang them!

I wonder why he rang them so quickly ??

[dedja]

Sir John Kerr would be proud of PNG at the minute.

At least Kerr had the excuse he was always pissed ...

[Psyber]

Sir John Kerr would be proud of PNG at the minute.
At least Kerr had the excuse he was always pissed ...

And he didn't change his mind after his decision to send it to be decided afresh at an election..