The U.S. has a higher percentage of it's populace in prison than any other nation in the world, beating out even China. (according to Google)

Some super-patriot please explain to me how you can reconcile this with the ridiculous claim that this is the "freest country in the world," especially given the fact that 70% of all prison inmates are incarcerated for victimless "crimes" (i.e. nonviolent drug "offenses")?

In some other countries, instead of going to jail, you disappear. Permanently.

We are the 'freest country in the world', meaning we're the least oppressed when it comes to civil rights and liberties. People in other countries get thrown in jail for stuff we take for granted -like protesting the government. Here, something trivial like littering might get you a ticket. In some other countries, you can get thrown in jail and physically punished with flogging.

You also have to consider that other countries prison systems treat prisoners more inhumanely so it's more of a crime deterrent. Here, we get people purposely committing crimes so they can get in jail because their life in jail can sometimes be better than life on the outside. Strange but true.

Dan70 wrote:

In some other countries, instead of going to jail, you disappear. Permanently.

We are the 'freest country in the world', meaning we're the least oppressed when it comes to civil rights and liberties. People in other countries get thrown in jail for stuff we take for granted -like protesting the government. Here, something trivial like littering might get you a ticket. In some other countries, you can get thrown in jail and physically punished with flogging.

You also have to consider that other countries prison systems treat prisoners more inhumanely so it's more of a crime deterrent. Here, we get people purposely committing crimes so they can get in jail because their life in jail can sometimes be better than life on the outside. Strange but true.

I don't think that's what he was getting at. A lot of people are in jail, and doing serious time, for bullshit. Non-violent 'crimes' and there's barely any room for the real criminals who deserve to be locked up. A lot of people (mostly black and Latino) are in jail and are INNOCENT. Spending their lives in jail because some asshole prosecutor is only worried about their conviction rate and not finding the real person responsible for the crime. Trumped up charges. Punishments that don't fit the crime. There is NO fucking way a person selling crack or cocaine should be spending more time in jail than someone who committed premeditated murder or a child rapist/killer. None whatsoever. The U.S. just likes to lock people up.

Nystyle709 wrote:

I don't think that's what he was getting at. A lot of people are in jail, and doing serious time, for bullshit. Non-violent 'crimes' and there's barely any room for the real criminals who deserve to be locked up. A lot of people (mostly black and Latino) are in jail and are INNOCENT. Spending their lives in jail because some asshole prosecutor is only worried about their conviction rate and not finding the real person responsible for the crime. Trumped up charges. Punishments that don't fit the crime. There is NO fucking way a person selling crack or cocaine should be spending more time in jail than someone who committed premeditated murder or a child rapist/killer. None whatsoever. The U.S. just likes to lock people up.

While that may be true, a point they had is that in this country, if you break a crime or are accused of one, you DO get a trial, you have a right to a fair and speedy trial, unlike in other countries where if they suspect you of something they stone you to death immediately and that's status quo. Here you have defense attorneys, appeals, plea deals, you name it, and in cases of rape and murder we now have DNA to clear or condemn people so accused people here still have more rights and options than in other countries.

Dan70 wrote:

In some other countries, instead of going to jail, you disappear. Permanently.

We are the 'freest country in the world', meaning we're the least oppressed when it comes to civil rights and liberties. People in other countries get thrown in jail for stuff we take for granted -like protesting the government. Here, something trivial like littering might get you a ticket. In some other countries, you can get thrown in jail and physically punished with flogging.

You also have to consider that other countries prison systems treat prisoners more inhumanely so it's more of a crime deterrent. Here, we get people purposely committing crimes so they can get in jail because their life in jail can sometimes be better than life on the outside. Strange but true.

Yeah exactly! lol

Marc wrote:

Some super-patriot please explain to me how you can reconcile this with the ridiculous claim that this is the "freest country in the world," especially given the fact that 70% of all prison inmates are incarcerated for victimless "crimes" (i.e. nonviolent drug "offenses")?

Being the "freest country in the world" doesn't mean criminals should be free. They're in prison because they broke the law, and if we're the most imprisoned nation in the world, so what? People who can't follow the laws should be punished - and that's the way it should be; nobody should get a free ride.