John O’Leary: 1% Chance of Surviving
When life knocks us down or tragedy strikes us or our loved ones, it’s easy to think life is unfair and wonder, “Why me?” But…
Thought Leader: John O’Leary
Will the Strange Bedfellow Team of Van Jones and Newt Gingrich Push Congress to Reverse Decades of Criminal Justice and Prison Policy?
By Seven Rosenfeld (original source Alternet)
Washington’s newest unlikely power couple is the head-turning combination of Newt Gingrich, the white-haired former House Speaker and elbows-out Republican, and Van Jones, the African-American racial and environmental justice reformer who became a CNN commentator after a stint as Obama’s green jobs coordinator. They have joined forces as the newest high-profile faces calling for criminal justice reforms, from less harsh sentences for non-violent crimes to cutting the prison population in half.
“I was hardcore on the issue of crime,” Gingrich told a recent summit attended by 400 state legislators, judges, prison system administrators and federal justice officials, saying that the get-tough-on-crime policies that he helped adopt—including a crime bill from President Bill Clinton that led to an explosion of new prisons—have backfired. “There were tremendous unintended consequences. Locking up people for very minor drug offenses destroyed their future. It didn’t teach them a lesson and it didn’t seem to be having any effect on convincing the rest of the community.”
Click here to read more
Relevant and recent posts
David Frum: America on the Brink of War With Venezuela
On this episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with a warning about the coming Supreme Court battle over President Donald…
Thought Leader: David Frum
Anders Fogh Rasmussen Calls for Stronger Ukraine Support
In an interview with Euronews, former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Germany to deliver its Taurus missiles to Kyiv, also calling on allies…
Thought Leader: Anders Fogh Rasmussen
More with this speaker
Newt Gingrich on Faith, Free Speech & Civil Discourse
Thought Leader: Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich: Putin’s Strategic Disaster
Thought Leader: Newt Gingrich