TheWiseOldFart

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart You may not think that the subjects of America’s prisons and our nation’s hospitals have anything in common. You would be mostly correct. However, the one thing they share is how they affect our nation’s economy. I begin with one of our country’s biggest problems: incarceration. Currently, there are about two million men and women in our prisons and jails. The statistics, which are of far greater importance, are very disturbing. America has a little more than 4% of the world’s population, and 20-25 percent of all men and women incarcerated in the world. Even more disturbing is the recidivism rate, which is far greater than any other nation in the world. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reports that 66% of released state prisoners were rearrested within three years, and a staggering 82% were arrested at least once during a ten-year follow-up. There is only one reason for this tragic fact. Our nation’s prisons are designed to punish convicted criminals, not ...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart Trump is nothing more than a common grifter. I don’t know why, but investigations begun several years ago after questions were asked but not answered about where his excess campaign funds are, as well as millions of dollars donated to the smallest inauguration in modern history, suddenly came to a halt. It is fair to assume that Trump used millions of dollars for his own interests. It is on record that he embezzled money from his own charity. MOVING AHEAD TO 2024 In just two weeks Trump supporters donated tens of millions of dollars to his campaign. How much of that will be used for the purpose intended? Today’s “Republicans” are experiencing disappointments far more significant than raising money. They are losing close races in swing states and in some red states. Candidates supported by Trump in these primaries are struggling. The most important change is found in recent polls. A FOX News poll shows President Biden gaining 12 points over Trum...