Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Schwarzenegger suggests paying Mexico to build Prisons


Schwarzenegger suggests paying Mexico to build prisons

Interesting indeed! Check this one out!

20 comments:

  1. Looking at this article, I would think that this is another scapegoat suggestion. Mexico can't control their own crime. Drugs dealers and cartel in the U.S. are making it hard for Mexico to control crime in their country. Why do we want to use countries with less resources and economic problems to build prisons. What guarantee the building code and standard would be compatible to the United States. The United States also has the highest levels of lifetime illegal cocaine and marijuana use, why should we put our problems on Mexico? United States has not perfect their own jail system and why do we think Mexico would be any better. California should find another way to raise money.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is a case of moving social problems around...:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. It seems that paying another country to take care of our prison problem is a little counter intuitive. I am assuming that Mexico would be able to house the inmates for less money than we can here in the US? Even if this is so it brings up other problems, such as what if they house them cheaper but also violate some of the rights the prisoners might have? I know that in some cases of private companies running things like juvenile delinquency centers the individuals there were treated very badly and denied access to basic things that I think nobody should be kept from even if they have commited a crime. Maybe California could impose fines for certain misdemeanor crimes that individuals have to serve jail time for right now, this way there are less people they have to pay to house in jails/prisons and revenue would be increased from the payment of fines.

    Alena Karahmetovic

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree with Pam when it comes to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to move undocumented immigrants to prisons in Mexico. If we ever want to solve the crime problem that is already present there then the United States needs to come up with more logical ideas to accomplish that feat. This will only put more criminals in Mexico which will lead to more criminal activity there and make their dilemma even worse than it already is. This scheme would help California put their money in different places, but these immigrants that would get sent back to Mexico would most likely get treated poorly in the prison system. I agree that these people are criminals in the United States, but they are also human beings that are guaranteed certain rights. Schwarzenegger is just trying to pawn these people off so that they are not his problem anymore and he will make some money for California in the process. I believe we need to do something about this problem, but this is obviously not the right answer.

    Clint Bacon

    ReplyDelete
  5. Any person can make a good case as to why it can be a good thing but at the same time it is kind of insane. Since California can save$1 billion and it will go into education instead of wasting that money on illegal immigrants, then yes it will definitely be a great idea. However, why would California pay Mexico to take back their own citizens? Paying Mexico can definitely use the money, but being a Mexican myself, I would not be to sure that Mexico will keep the inmates too long in prison. Second of all, who says that all illegal immigrants come from Mexico? If California is going to send “Mexican” illegal immigrants back to Mexico and pay Mexico to keep them there, then what about immigrants from Honduras or El Salvador? Is California going to pay those countries too? So, yes it can be both good and bad but personally I do not believe it is a good idea at all. Sorry Mr. Terminator is not going to work!;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think it is a great idea! I don’t see what the problem is? We are only going to send back those that are here illegally. Y’all are worrying about their rights and being mistreated but they are in jail for something. Lets just say its because they are here illegally, isn’t that the real problem. If we are locking them up for just being here illegally that is the true problem at hand. We are not going to pawn them off, because they are not ours in the first place. Lets also say that Mexico can’t handle their own crime so what makes us think they can handle our criminals. Well maybe by building these prisons we would create good jobs for them and they would not want or need to come here looking for that. The said thing is that Mexico can do the same things we can do cheaper. Its not necessarily because they are mistreating there workers, it’s because they do not have the American greed that allows them to need to earn less.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It is easy to say go far it, but what if you have relatives associated in these systems and many of us does. I would not want this to happen. I believe Arnold is losing his mind and really trying to find any venure to get approval for him to be in that position. Some might feel this is differently one of those cases involving LAW IS A COMODITY, did I spell that right. If not you know what Im trying to say. If it start there who say it wont end up in the Middle East, Asia, or France smile.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can see where Arnold Schwarzenegger could see the benefit of having a jail built in Mexico. I assume that the largest population of inmates that reside in the jails in California are Mexico residents. I think that he is just saying that while in jail or prison let these people stay in their own country. This could help with the overcrowding in the jails in California and maybe allow tax payers money to be distributed else where. I can also see where it looks like he is just pawning of a major problem to another country. The worst part is Mexico has enough problems already without California dumping off inmates. If Mexico and California agreed to this idea, then I would say go for it. Honestly what is there to lose other than tax payers’ money, which is probably already being wasted?

    ReplyDelete
  9. From what I have seen before, this is consistent with Schwarzenegger's belief that Mexicans should take the time to come here and wait to become citizens legally. But many people, such as myself, think this is an antiquated concept and that the process of becoming a citizen should be more speedy. Yet that topic is too complex to deal with here. I think the idea is bad and it might well be a thinly veiled scheme to rid California of its illegal immigrants. It also might cause more problems for Mexico. Illegal immigrants are only considered criminals because certain Americans want to keep it that way legally. They want them to be deviant and to be outsiders. They creat just another form of "otherness" to justify the way we are, and frankly it is sickening. If they truly believe they don't belong here, then why do they house them in our prisons? That's an element of hypocrisy I see. I think it just makes the criminal justice system look worse. I also wonder if their sentencing is affected by their so-called illegal status. The whole thing stinks of racism, intended or not, to me.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I so agree with Jalmaraz, all illegal immigrants are not from Mexico so he needs to correct himself on that. And sending them off to Mexico is not that smart because in Mexico there is now a lot more greed than there is here in America, I think that the Mexican government would ask for more money than what is offered, because their government is so corrupt and maybe even bought by the cartels I mean think about it, later the actual cartels are going to be running these prisons. All the crimes that are being committed in Mexico now are horrible and just imagine if we send more criminals over and then they are released how much more crime there will be. Also come on now how many millions will there spent for building the prison? There are so many little things that Mr. Terminator needs to look into before any decisions are made.

    ReplyDelete
  11. While the governor’s heart is in the right place, I think he is going about it in the wrong way. If he wants to save money for his state, he needs to invest more in his workforce in order for the workforce in the future to produce a higher quality or quantity of goods. Instead of having the illegal immigrant problem, why not open up discussions with Mexico on allowing workers to come over legally and build institutions such as schools? We need these schools anyway so why not have them built cheaply as well as encouraging people to come to the country legally so they could participate in programs such as this? This would be a better long-term investment than simply building prison after prison. If you want to reform people, you need to educate them, not incarcerate them. The problem with moving inmates to Mexico is that now you are dealing with Mexican law. Even if they did as they did in Cuba with Guantanamo Bay to where our laws would supersede theirs, you are still dealing with a potentially dangerous diplomatic situation and there is the problem of California simply shifting this problem away from itself. Prisons are unsightly; they lower property values, and let’s face it, if inmates escape, would most Californian’s rather see the inmates loose in California or somewhere far away? This is basically a copout instead of us taking responsibility for our own problems.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Why is this man Governor? I really want to know why he was elected in the first place. I like how this idea is he "stroke of genius". It’s hilarious to me that he's so confident in the idea. Why would Mexican citizens want to build a jail to house their own people? He says that this is not a way to just send illegal immigrants back to Mexico, but I can't help but to think that is exactly what it is. Why else was it necessary to bring the illegal immigrants up in the first place? Why does the prison have to be in Mexico rather than somewhere else in America? Why send our problem somewhere else? And Mexico is not the best place to send them. Mexico has enough of their own problems. I think this idea is completely ridiculous. I feel sorry for California.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Let's see, legal law abidding, hard working citizens struggling to make a comfortable life for their families being forced to pay taxes to support housing, feeding, clothing, and all necessities of life for imprisoned illegal immigrants; at a cost of $45,000 a year per inmate, for 20,000 illegal imprisoned inmates which equates to $900,000,000 annually, what is right about that? These tax dollars could be used to better educate the working class children, medical care for our elderly, etc. If Gov. Schwarzenegger can work out a plan to successfully house these criminals in Mexico and reduce the costs to the state of California, go for it! Maybe the money saved could go to "SECURE the border" and put a stop to facilitating this crime in the first place!

    ReplyDelete
  14. After reading this, I can see a benefit of both sides of this argument. What Governor Schwarzenegger is suggesting is a plan to create a more beneficial use of the tremendous amount of tax money going at waste for the jail system. What is more convincing about this plan is that "The governor said California could save $1 billion that could go into higher education", which can make that use of tax money a lot better into education. However, I am unfamiliar with how Mexico deals with crime and criminals. This could be one of the problems because crime is dealt with differently in Mexico. There are many social problems here and Governor Schwarzenegger states that Mexico could house their criminals cheaper, if they would build the prisons. This could be problematic because it may cost a lot less, but what if individual rights are violated? Until a better and more secure plan is accepted, this plan is a start, but still a very problematic one that may be worse.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I do not see what since it would make to pay Mexico to take care of their citizens. I know Arnold is saying pay Mexico to build prisons, but in essence that is the same as saying we will pay you to take care of your own citizens. I do not see this turning into anything, but a financial gain for Mexico. Because think about it, the more illegal immigrants that come into the penal system, the more they will need to continue to build more prisons, and the more work for others. The problem with that is it is a lot of US citizens that need work as well so lets not keep them out of work with this “genius” plan.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey, well its an idea isn't it? I don't actually believ it's a bad one either. He is thinking about reducing costs of the rpison systems to put money into education which I believe is a good idea. Don't other companies use this tactice so we can save money on things as well. Where is our clothes, shoes, electronis, tv's, etc. made? In foreing countries! Why? because it's cheaper to pay someone else to do it then to pay an american worker to do it. If it wasn't this way than we would be paying 400$ for a pair of sneakers. Do i think this is a bad idea? no, but Scharzenegger should proabbly take a different approach on it such as suggesting that all thast we would be doing is reducing our costs and putting it somewhere of more importance to our society and at the same time giving job oppurtunities to people in mexico so they don't have tio come achieve the "american dream" they could achieve the mexican dream instead and stay with their famly wirthout risking their lives.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Whhoooo…Interesting concept! It is hard to say a definite decision on this topic because of the vague details. Although from what I read, I agree with the suggestion. Granted it would take a large amount of planning and organizing, this might help keep US money for the US citizens and not for housing illegal criminals.

    If “illegal” immigrants come into the US and do “illegal” things then I think that they should be sent to Mexico to be held in prison there. In the long run, this may end up being a beneficial attempt at lessening the prison population in California.

    Although, on the other hand, I do agree with jalmaraz, “who says that all illegal immigrants come from Mexico?” This could be a potential problem in finding out if those being sent to Mexico are indeed Mexicans.
    Having the extra funds would be nice to spend on education. If the TERMINATOR can both save California money and still house criminals in their own country lines, then do it! It should be interesting to see what he has pulled up his sleeve and to see how it will positively effect the population of California.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I see how it is a good idea beacause of how much money will be saved, but what will Mexico do when that facility is too full? They will have to let some go or will let the ones get out with bribery which is known to work in Mexico. Then as soon as they get out they will most likely once again try to immigrate to the US illegally so is this a good idea and just balancing a cycle or should another plan take place? Arizona's new law that they are trying to pass is ridiculous as well as offensive because a majority of illigal immigrants are here in the US but there are alot of legal hispanic americans here as well. I would hate to think of the day when I'm asked to see my papers several times when out in public to prove I'm a citizen. I just think it'll cause more crime and identity theft.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is crazy! Though their job is to observe and report, they should’ve done the right thing and stopped the beating. Yes we are taught to go by the rules that our work has set for us but there is a time like in this situation that they one should put aside those rules if it prevented one from helping someone from harm or sometimes death. I hope the security force make a lot changes after this incident.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Why are we paying Mexico to build prisons for us? We are getting convicts from over England too!! So really whats the point of accepting them for when we really are running out of space. Mexico crimes are pretty bad itself. They don't seem to be controlling it all that well.

    ReplyDelete