Was Olivia Pope Snubbed from the 50th Anniversary of The March on Washington? 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

Was Olivia Pope[1] Snubbed from the 50^th Anniversary of The March on Washington?[2] (revised)

© 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

August 28, 2013 marked the 50^th Anniversary of the March on Washington[3], and Dr. Martin Luther King’s infamous “I Have a Dream” Speech[4].  Many speakers came forward, including two former U.S. Presidents, Bill Clinton[5], and Jimmy Carter[6], and our current President of the United States, Barack Obama[7].  This 50^th year commemoration was organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network[8], and Martin Luther King, III, President of Realizing the Dream[9], the NAACP[10] and others. This 50th year anniversary theme: Jobs, Justice and Freedom[11], compared to the 1963 March on Washington’s theme: Jobs and Freedom[12], was celebrated over a five day period  culminating on the actual anniversary date, August 28, 2013, where many of thousands had turned out to remember, and commemorate this historical time in American history. 

And you are? Olivia Pope  (ToBusy Gladiating Videos)

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=610DBA7EIiw

Common among the speeches was the acknowledgement that while much had been done over the course of the 50 years since Dr. King’s iconic I Have a Dream! Speech, there was the unequivocable (sp?) agreement, that there was still much work to be done.  And, despite the atmosphere of this historical moment, there was a reported snub of the 1^st Black Senator from South Carolina, Tim Scott who was appointed to the office by Governor Nikki Haley. [13]  But perhaps that snub will pale in comparison to another snub.  (Your snub list may differ). This one of a kind, very powerful character maneuvers through Washington, D.C. working among the very powerful and the elite.   Whom: Olivia Pope of Scandal[14] fame. 

She Ain’t Real

Why not invite a very powerful Black woman to speak during this historic event, who has connections within Washington D.C.’s halls of justice, Congress and yes, the White House?  Ridiculous? Or is it?  No, she is not real.  Some might say that one powerful Black woman is enough, in the form of Oprah Winfrey of the OWN network[15]. That to have two super powerful Black women at the Lincoln Memorial would overshadow the message of Justice, Jobs and Freedoms.  But in reality, Oprah, she don’t know nothing, at least, nothing about Washington insider tricks.  She’s just another pretty face for the board rooms and talk tv. 

And while I suggest that Olivia Pope was snubbed, there maybe a good cause why she would not have been considered as one of those to speak before the throngs of thousands between the Lincoln and Washington Memorials. We may all conclude initially, that she isn’t real, but she is powerful as embodied by Kerry Washington.[16]  And if she could be embodied on a weekly tv series where she takes on Washington politics and Washington insiders’ problems, why couldn’t she take on the hopes and dreams of people who, for too long, depend on Washington to provide them justice, jobs and equality?   It is my contention that she should have had this one opportunity.   How much more harm could she do that 50 years since the March on Washington has cost a very important part of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?[17]

Who is Olivia Pope?[18]

In all fairness, we know that besides being a fictional character, we know that she is the creation of Shonda Rhimes, [19] the creator of the ABC hit series, Scandal[20].  The star of this high-powered drama is the very beautiful, and talented, award-winning Kerry Washington.  Portraying the role Olivia Pope, Kerry brings to life a no-holds barred, independent black woman whose major flaw, per the Scandal storyline, is that she is weak for the President of the United States, the leader of the “free-world”.  Or perhaps, the President (Scott Fitzgerald) played by Tony Goldwyn [21] is weak for Olivia Pope?  While this is not a plug for the program, I suggest you tune in and see Whose Zooming Who.[22] 

The real point here is that a fictional character is being suggested as having been overlooked from the lineup of many of this nation’s greatest Civil Rights leaders, and current dignitaries from all across this great country.  How immature, or perhaps, as some may see it, sacrilegious! Or, maybe this is a sad attempt by this writer to make a name for himself.  And perhaps so.  But it is with good intent that Olivia Pope be proposed.  The storyline regarding Olivia Pope, also places her in a role unimaginable by today’s standards.  Although we are in the early 21^st century, women being seen as anything other than as assistants, or second-class citizens by their pay, would hardly be seen as “a fixer”.  A what? A Fixer![23]  What the hell is “a fixer”, surely you ask.  In the Scandal storyline, a fixer is a Crisis Management firm developed by Olivia Pope & Associates[24] apparently designed to help Washington’s elite to put a positive spin on a negative situation for which many Washington’s elite and politicians can relate. 

Although the storyline is based on an actual person within the Washington political belt, to me, the closest to reality that Olivia Pope comes to in my mind, politically, is Donna Bazile,[25] CNN Political Consultant and presidential campaign manger to former Presidential candidate Al Gore[26], and former Vice President to Bill Clinton. That proximity however may not translate to being good enough to being invited to speak on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for the character of Olivia Pope.  But there remains a strong indication that someone like her was needed to balance the number of speakers who had delivered their various messages of congratulations, and acknowledgements to those who had helped promote Dr. King’s dreams over the past 50 years.  So what could someone like an Olivia Pope have brought to the table, or the mall, as it were?

How does fiction convert to reality?

How often is a fictional character proposed as an alternative to life’s real circumstances?  Perhaps more than we know.  When it comes to real life crime, we can all use a Hulk, Captain America, [27] or Superman[28].  How many young girls fashioned themselves after the “Barbie”[29] doll to make themselves thin or what they are led to believe is attractive?  So proposing that a fictional character such as Olivia Pope have a strategic role, a speaking role, no less, honoring one of America’s most iconic and historical events, may not be a far stretch.

 

Whose to blame?

Section 4 of The Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been gutted with the most recent decision of the United Supreme Court.[30]  If this was all, it maybe okay.  But also note that in October, 2013,  the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case of Fischer v the University of Texas.[31]. These two cases are indicative of what is to come.  And while it appears to be racially motivated, many Americans don’t understand how many of the rights that were rescinded were done so against People of Color.  The fights for those rights were by Whites and People of Color, and subsequently by women (the 19^th Amendment[32]) who fought for the right to vote, and subsequent to that, people who were handicapped (ADA[33]); those with families and children [34], and most recently, those who are LGBT[35].  Whatever rights that are generally guaranteed by the Constitution are constantly in play, and before long, as many of us believe that it is the responsibility of someone else to ensure our rights, those rights will be gone, in totality.  Whose to blame?  We all are, because we believed that our rights, while guaranteed, are rock solid, and nothing is more closer to incorrect.  Rights must be fought for all the time. 

“What is your end game?” Harrison to Olivia Pope (ScandalousGladiators Videos)

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIzVgdgQ4uI

We need an Olivia Pope, someone who dares us to sleep, dares us to dream; someone who will not hold our hand and coddle us while our rights are being taken away.  We need an Olivia Pope who will treat us like the Gladiators that surround her, and will give us our marching orders, and will expect nothing less than our best while we actively pursue our dreams, but don’t take for granted the rights that are constantly being attacked.

Harrison Wright: 101-Scandal (ABC Network Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OGIWQ-ec_E

WWOPS or, What Would “Olivia Pope” Say?

The character created by Shonda Rhimes, is no doubt, in my mind, Shonda Rhimes herself.  The character personified by Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, is not just the actress portraying a woman caught up in a tumultuous love affair with the President of the United States, she is, as a Crisis Manager, managing a crew of professionals whom she refers to as her Gladiators[36].  Whether Olivia Pope is the voice of Shonda Rimes or the embodiment of Kerry Washington, she appears to be every person who has ever wanted to stand for something, or stand up to someone when it came to their future.  But, that in itself could be the very reason why Olivia Pope would not be invited to this historical event. 

However, if she were allowed to stand at the podium, on this historical moment, here is what I envision.  As she is flanked by her “Gladiators” (Harrison Wright, played by Columbus Short[37]; Abby Whelan played by Darby Stanchfield[38]; Huck played by Guillermo Diaz[39]; Quinn Perkins/Lindsay Dwyer played by Katie Lowes[40]), Olivia Pope would look out over the thousands of attendees and would remind them/us of these important things, in keeping with the theme of  pursuing Jobs and Freedom:

v     The Constitution of the United States[41] is a living breathing document.  We know that it is living because despite being born in 1776, it’s most recent Amendment was at least in 1992[42];

v     The Constitution of the United States guarantees every American the right to life, liberty and (the right) to pursue happiness[43], it’s not an option;

v     The right to pursue happiness means that we are not to be coddled, or have our hands held, hoping that our rights will always be there;

v      We are to be reminded that everyday is the pursuit of happiness in these United States, that everyday is the pursuit of liberty and that everyday is the pursuit of fulfilling our dreams. Why is this important? Because, conversely, everyday someone is working to take away those very rights, guaranteed by the United States Constitution;

v     We are to be reminded that everyday someone is working just as hard to place a tourniquet around the 14^th Amendment, the 15^th Amendment, the 1^st Amendment, and/or the 2^nd Amendment.  Many of those who are working everyday to suspend or rescind those rights are right here within the Continental United States, and, who are just as protected as each one of us by the same Constitution to diminish, or eliminate our rights;

v     The challenge to each and everyone of us, is not to come back 50 years from now, whining and complaining about the rights we lost because we sat back, laid back, or stood on the sidelines and watched each one of our rights get taken away;

v     The challenge before us, from this day forward, is not to come back to this hallowed place again to commemorate what happened in 1963 unless there are victories to celebrate.

v     No one should ever gather at this hallowed place 50 years from now unless or until, every American can rest assured that each and every right guaranteed by the Constitution is secured; that each and every citizen of the United States can wake up each day having truly achieved the American dream.

v     Until then, no one sleeps, takes a break; no one looks for a leg up, or a hand out.  Everyone must pull their own weight, everyday, and every time their rights to freedom is challenged, or threatened;

v     Whether by phone, carrier pigeon, letter writing campaign, or telegraph, everyone is responsible for securing the rights afforded by the United States Constitution;

v     Finally, the United States Constitution continues to breathe because of the men and women of our United States Armed Forces, who fight for the freedoms that many of us enjoy, but not only that, what many of us also take for granted.  But that does not mean that we, as American citizens, stand at Parade Rest while political and community leaders stiff-arm us only to carry out an agenda that puts each and everyone of us at odds with the very thing that the Constitution prescribes-life, liberty and (the right) to pursue happiness.  The Constitution is interactive, and therefore requires that we as citizens all take an active role in its longevity by standing up everyday for all that it provides.

Whether Olivia Pope would have said anything remotely close to the above points will be up for a debate (for no more than a minute).  But why would anyone who may have said something to this effect not be a speaker at the 50^th anniversary of the March on Washington?  Here is why?

Olivia Pope does not have that nurturing nature that many citizens have been led to believe is what political leaders and community activists seem to incorporate into their leadership strategy.  She does not do that lead from the rear, or puts you on hold while she achieves her own success, while your success is seemingly far out of reach. From my perspective, Olivia Pope has the all hands on deck approach to achieving our individual and our collective dreams, leaving no one behind.  She holds everyone accountable and she does not entertain excuses for failure. 

“We owe her”- Harrison to Abby (Scandalous Gladiators Videos) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZfWeUvfXys

Olivia Pope is real!

Yes, she is as real as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy.  Olivia Pope is as real as her creator, Shonda Rhimes; as real as Kerry Washington the actress who personifies the character, herself.  Olivia Pope is as real as the rights that many of us take for granted, but don’t register to vote, or vote at all.  She is as real as the political leaders whom we continue to put in office term after term, and complain because there is grid-lock in Congress;  Olivia Pope is as real as the sponsors that pour millions of dollars into the commercials that promote the Scandal program.  The reality is that for all intent and purposes, as we have come to know it, reality is not really appreciated.  We have been taught or led to believe that everyone else knows what is best for us.  And for our own failure to standup to those who mislead us, we don’t get the privilege of an Olivia Pope.  She, nor anyone who remotely resembles her, will be allowed to speak from so hallowed a place, and challenge us to stand up for our Constitutional Rights.  But, I have been known to be wrong.

Conclusion

When Dr. King was shot in 1968,[44] my father was in the hospital.  He was recovering from an appendix surgery.  On that night, my mother Sarah, and Aunt Polly received word from a neighbor that in response to Dr. King’s assassination, there would be retaliatory actions against anyone who did not tie a black rag on their doors or fences.  My mother hurried and found a scarf and tied it to the fence in our front yard.  Very shortly thereafter, we saw men down the street trying to set fire to a corner store.  We hurried inside  and through a side door to our backyard and climbed a fence to our neighbor, Ms. Annie Mae Spain, whose husband had already past.  That’s all I remember about that night.  My young years are a vague recollection of assassinations of President John F. Kennedy[45], his brother, Robert F. Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention[46], Malcolm X,[47] and Dr. King.  I share these brief memories to let you know that I understand the seriousness of the situation of the March on Washington (1963 and 2013).  As I suggest a fictional character as having been snubbed at the 50^th anniversary of the March on Washington, I don’t do it lightly.

Men and women are still dying today for the very rights that are on the chopping block before the Supreme Court.  But too, young people are dying at by gun violence, by their own hands as well as adults. To suggest that a fictional character has a better message than many of those who stand before us, is to suggest that the seriousness of these times are lost on young people who are content to wear their pants below their butts; that the seriousness of these times are lost on young people who believe that drugs, guns and domestic violence are more important than the rights that are being shredded right before our very eyes; that the seriousness of these times are being lost on many of our young people who fail to realize that schools are being closed, and training opportunities that are no longer provided are the basis for more jails to be built and to ultimately have a society  that does not question, that does not think for itself, or a society that will have less of a role in the selection of its leaders who are capable of actually leading.

Yes, Olivia Pope is fictional.  But she is the closest to what used to be the kind of leadership that many of us can only dream of today when it comes to securing many of the rights that are being hacked up, repealed, or watered-down.  Maybe we don’t need an Olivia Pope, but hopefully there is an alternative that is damn close, and she, or he, won’t take a leadership role unless we register to vote, actually vote and hold accountable those who represent the very best of what the Constitution of the United States guarantees: Life, Liberty and (the right to the) pursuit of happiness.  Maybe its time we become Gladiators- Gladiators in a suit[48].  Correct me, if I am wrong.

Scandal Quote:

“We do. Not. Give. Up.” Olivia Pope[49]

Disclaimer:  All information provided here is deemed to be from reliable sources but are not guaranteed.  No endorsements are implied, suggested or paid for in this posting.  Please consult your respective political representative if you have any questions.  Register to vote.  VOTE!

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[1] Olivia Pope?: http://scandal.wikia.com/wiki/Olivia_Pope

[2] “I Have a Dream” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. March on Washington 1963- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smEqnnklfYs

[3] 50^th Anniversary of the March On Washington- http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/24/us/march-on-washington

[4] Dr. Martin  Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech: http://www.archives.gov/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf

[5] President Bill Clinton-  http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamjclinton/

[6] President Jimmy Carter-  http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jimmycarter/

[7] Barack Obama-  http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama/

[8] Rev Al Sharpton and National Action Network- http://nationalactionnetwork.net/

[9] Martin Luther King, III and Realizing the Dream- http://realizingthedream.ua.edu/

[10] NAACP-  http://www.naacp.org/

[11] Theme for March on Washington 1963: https://abagond.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/march-on-washington-1963/

[12] March on Washington 1963-Jobs and Freedom- http://www.suntimes.com/news/jackson/21891194-452/kings-march-was-for-jobs-and-freedom.html

[13] http://redalertpolitics.com/2013/08/28/nations-only-black-senator-not-invited-to-speak-at-march-on-washington/

[14] Scandal- http://tv.yahoo.com/shows/scandal/

[15] Oprah Winfrey- http://www.oprah.com/own/shows.html

[16] Kerry Washington- http://www.kerrywashington.com/

[17] Voting Rights Act of 1965- http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=old&doc=100

[18] Inspiration for Olivia Pope- http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/04/judy-smith-the-inspiration-for-scandal-s-olivia-pope-interviewed-by-cynn-simpson-74627.html

[19] Shonda Rhimes-  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shonda_Rhimes

[20] Scandal- http://abc.go.com/shows/scandal

[21] Tony Goldwyn- http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/scandal-spoilers-fitz-jake-olivia-tony-goldwyn-423394

[22] Aretha Franklin-Whose Zoomin- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HwF8VoyKU4  

[23] Inspired by the life of Judy Smith (Scandal Storyline)- http://www.wcvb.com/news/entertainment/-Professional-fixer-s-life-premise-for-ABC-drama-Scandal/-/9848582/17010694/-/3via01z/-/index.html

[24] Olivia Pope & Associates- http://thefixer-oliviapope.tumblr.com/

[25] Donna Bazile- http://donnabrazile.com/

[26] Al Gore- http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/02/us/al-gore-fast-facts

[27] Hulk and Captain America- Marvel Comics- http://marvel.com/

[28] Superman- DC Comics- http://www.dccomics.com/

[29] Barbie- Mattel Toys-  http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-900&va=Barbie+doll

[30] Voting Rights Act Gutted- http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/07/25/2353251/florida-voter-purge-resumes-after-voting-rights-act/

[31]Fisher vs the University of Texas- http://annotations.jonesmcclure.com/2013/03/29/supreme-court-grants-cert-in-affirmative-action-repeal-case/

[32] The 19^th Amendment- http://womensissues.about.com/od/19thamendment/f/19thAmendment.htm

[33] Americans with Disability Act As Amended- http://www.ada.gov/pubs/ada.htm

[34] Discrimination against Families with Children- http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/family-status-discrimination-in-housing.html

[35] Discrimination against LGBT Act- https://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/employment-non-discrimination-act-statement

[36] Olivia Pope’s Gladiators- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZfWeUvfXys

[37] Columbus Short- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1551922/bio

[38] Darby Stanchfield- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1581670/bio 

[39] Guillermo Diaz-  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0246585/bio

[40] Katie Lowes-  http://celebritytoob.com/actress/katie-lowes/

[41] The United States Constitution- http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html

[42] 27^th Amendment to the Constitution- http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_11-27.html

[43] The Declaration of Independence- http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

[44] The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King- http://history1900s.about.com/cs/martinlutherking/a/mlkassass.htm

[45]  The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy-  http://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/JFK-in-History/November-22-1963-Death-of-the-President.aspx

[46]  The Assassination of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy-  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Robert_F._Kennedy

[47]  The Assassination of Malcolm X- http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/malcolm-x-assassinated

[48] Gladiators in a Suit- http://scandalmoments.com/category/gladiators-in-a-suit/

[49] Scandal Quotes- http://abcscandalfans.com/gladiator-extras/quotes/

INCARCERATION IN AMERICA- MOTIVE: PROFIT! © 2013 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr

When investigating a murder, police often look for a motive.  Even if the perpetrator is immediately available, they need to establish a viable motive.  Even if the police develop a motive, they have to bring corroborating evidence that is unquestionable, and beyond a reasonable doubt.  So too, we have the issue of excessive incarceration.  The Motive:  Profit-Beyond a reasonable doubt.  How do we prove it?  We look for evidence that is supported by facts.  Nothing can be circumstantial.  The evidence must be without a doubt. 

Preliminary/Background information:

According to the Bureau of Justice Statics of the Department of the Justice.[1]

v     Prison population declined for 3^rd year in a row to 1,571,031 for 2012,

v     California accounted for 51% of the decrease in state prison population during 2012;

v     Nine states had a decrease of over 1000 prisoners, including California, Texas, North Carolina, Colorado, Arkansas, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Maryland;

v     Louisiana and the Federal prison systems had more than 1000 prisoners in 2012

Who are the possible suspects?

v     CCA or Corrections Corporation of America[2] (CWX on the Stockmarket)[3];

v     GEO Group[4] (GEO on the Stockmarket)[5].   

In actuality, there is no doubt that Mass Incarceration in America is well on its way.  And as quiet as it is kept, the inevitability of everyone becoming victims to this new era of incarceration may have not quite hit home.

Unlike a murder investigation where the evidence may require determining whose DNA[6] is left at the scene, there is no question that the DNA belongs to at least 2 of these Corporate giants

: CCA and GEO.  These two powerhouse groups can be found throughout America, if not internationally, proposing, or taking an active role in the management of current and formerly public operated facilities that house many of America’s inmates.  There maybe more for-profit corrections operators, but these two rise to the top as possible corroborators who play a significant role in not only managing many of our federal, state and local jails and prisons, but possibly soliciting the influence of our political leaders in turning over public prisons for private management. 

Is there a Problem?

Quite frankly, there is no problem with a legal entity, or a for-profit group offering their services to a state, federal or local governmental entity.  Public-Private partnerships[7] have all but become a way of life throughout America.  For example, if we check closely, we will find healthcare, recreation, infrastructure, education, and now, of course, corrections and/or prison facilities all integrally working together to improve government’s role in managing tax dollars.  The benefit to the public entities is the supposed infusion of big dollars that would have otherwise been used throughout government, and thereby “saving the taxpayers dollars!”

The problem is that this alleged savings puts lives at risk.  Whose lives?  The lives of innocent men and women, who, whether convicted or not, will be subjected to financially influenced politicians and a criminal justice hierarchy (Sheriff’s, Police Administrators, Mayors, Council representatives, Aldermen) who could work to ensure that prison sentences will very rarely be to the minimum.  I suggest that the influence of the previously suggested suspects, CCA and the GEO group, will have such an impact on the lives of many men and women who, regardless of their guilt or innocence, will be forced to serve time in order to meet an proposed 90% guarantee occupancy.

Pros and Cons of PPP for Prisons[8]  

v     Prisons Operations have to weigh the cost of paying higher salaries and benefits as a public entity vs private partner who pays similar salaries, but keeps overtime and other benefits lower;

v     Performance for private entities are incentivized if for nothing else, renewal of contracts, also maintaining a safe environment, rehabilitation of inmates,

v     The issue of dependency becomes a concern when a private entity underbids and then raises its prices after being awarded the contract.

v     There is also the concern of transparency.  With governmental issues, inmates treatment has to be reported and their well-being must be documented, for the private enterprise, transparency maybe more difficult to achieve.

Is this Public-Private Partnership going too far?

Perhaps further investigation is advised, but the idea that there exists a partnership, that for-profit, requires a 90% minimum occupancy of the public, more specifically, of the Criminal Justice System at large, suggests that there will be less focused on Corrections’ main focus and that is, rehabilitation.  It is a far cry from healthcare for example, unless government agencies have to guarantee a 90% occupancy of patients in hospitals, or a 90% patient census for mental health facilities.  If this is remotely the case, then a partnership that guarantees such a large commitment by government agencies, opens the door to corruption.

If the State of Louisiana, for example, a state with possibly the highest number inmate population in the United States has to maintain a 90% occupancy, the lines will blur between who to let go as inmates, as well as the excessive number of cases in which prison sentences will include the maximum number of years, without justices taking judicial discretion.  Perhaps speculative, but a profit-motivated company that has billions of dollars to use to influence public officials on sentencing guidelines, can very well affect the outcome of sentences already in question when it comes to blacks and minorities.

Crying Wolf?

Yes, I am crying wolf!  I want to go on record as one of many, or perhaps a few too many, who don’t see a problem with this particular partnership.  There is no reason why a public-private partnership cannot exist between for-profit corporations and public entities on its face. History shows that they are working all of the time.  But given the record that exists here in America where People of Color as well as any other minorities are more likely to receive excessive sentences as compared to their White counter-parts for similar crimes, this door is opening too wide an opportunity for continued perceived disparate treatment in the Criminal Justice System.

For example: 48 States have been presented with the option to allow CCA to purchase their existing prison systems at $250,000,000 with a contingency of a guarantee of 90% population of prisoners for 20 years.[9]  States, such as Louisiana, which has the largest prison population in the United States[10], would seem to have no problem with submitting to this contingency for the money.  But the issue here is that with crime rates reportedly reduced nation-wide[11], the contingency of maintaining a 90% occupancy rate would suggest, that certain laws would require that judges impose the maximum amount of time on every individual brought before them. 

Solution? or Let’s just see how this goes?

If we want to see how far this goes, believing and trusting that our political leaders will keep an eye out for any improprieties, then we are far more naïve that we let on.  As a country, we have turned our backs on the Social Security System, and right now, the Social Security System[12] is nearly bankrupt because our political leaders “borrowed” from the system without returning the funds back to keep the system solvent.  I don’t think we should allow this particular Public-Private Partnership with prisons to go forth without knowing what safeguards are in place to protect People of Color and other minorities.  Why the emphasis on People of Color and other minorities?

As great a country as America is, at over 200 years of age, she is still racially immature, and acts in such a way as to bend the law, or even disregard the law when it comes to People of Color, and to the chagrin of those whose rights are violated, heads are turned, and misdirectional plays are projected that suggests that People of Color are always throwing down the race card.  Well, this is a pre-emptive strike.  I am throwing down the race card, and believe with all due disrespect to those who twist the truth in order to achieve a perverse control, that to allow this Public-Private Partnership of prisons to continue to go forth without safeguards or controls is setting America up for another failure.  And while People Color will be the victims of the lack of controls because so many of us could care less about the incarcerated, the opportunity to meet the contingency of a 90% inmate population has to eventually reach beyond minorities.  It has to reach to poor whites in rural areas, who like many minorities are poor and unable to afford an opportunity to defend themselves.  So yes, after the race card, next, I am throwing down the poor, rural white folks card.  For these folks, who have always voted against their own self-interest, they will very likely be locked up with the very minorities whom they have had a grave disdain.  And all of this for a Public-Private Partnership of prisons that will eventually see no color of skin, and will not distinguish between urban areas, rural areas or even suburbia because the money will be too good to pass up, is my proposing.

Overcoming the M.O.

Earlier, we discussed components of an investigation for murder.  Another analogy is the Method of Operation.  For big corporations, it is their ability to employ lobbyists.  According to the ProPublica website, our two corporate suspects have doled out a tremendous amount of dollars to influence prison management and reforms:

For example:

v     Corrections Corporation of America, whose revenue totaled approximately $1.7 billion dollars in 2011, has spent approximately $17.4 million over the last 10 years.[13]

v     The GEO group, also a corrections management group, revenues totaled approximately $1.6 million for 2011, according to their annual report, paid $2.5 million towards lobbying efforts for their corporation over the last 8 years.[14]

The average, ordinary American does not have the wherewithal to fight from within courts when they are accused and have to face prosecution. The justice that the average American seeks is now affected by corporations that apparently dictate policies, if not laws that will eventually imprison reasonably convicted persons for longer than necessary.  Fighting the system for those who are convicted is now joined by those who are also innocent, trying to prove that they don’t belong in prison for not only the crime that they are accused of, but for the corporate structure that is in place to take away their freedom.  Correction, our freedom.

The solution, an aged old one, is two-fold, or requires an emphasis on one of two options.  It is indeed that complicated as to how to approach this situation.  One aspect of the solution is to call, email, or send a letter to our respective representatives and/or make it known that we want the Public-Private Partnership to have safe-guards that prevent Correctional Corporations from having an undue influence on the Criminal Justice System.  Or, we can speak out on the methods and applications being used by Correctional Corporations that may seek to bypass the judicial process that focuses more on incarceration than rehabilitation, thereby increasing recidivism and, ensuring as close as possible, a 90% guaranteed occupancy.

Conclusion

There really is no conclusion here.  The idea of mass incarceration for-profit is very much in full swing, for possibly 20 or more years, and the only conclusion that is logical, is the ability to step in and demand of our legislators, and other governmental representatives that they not be overzealous in their rush to save money to the respective areas (local, state or federal agencies), without carefully weighing out how Public-Private Partnerships in prisons will eventually backfire.

If there is a failure to place safeguards in place that will keep corporations reporting and government agencies regularly inspecting and improving the environment for these operations to work effectively, we, as a country are doomed.  If corporations’ effect is merely by the dollars spent on lobbying for control, rather than focusing on reducing prison populations, or reducing crime, we can expect that our country will be made up of still yet, the largest, mass incarceration around the world.  If that is our goal, then the motive is definitely----- profit-driven.

Bibliography:

v     Private Prisons and Mass Incarceration-

      https://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights/banking-bondage-private-prisons-and-                                             mass-incarceration

v     Stop Incarceration for Profit: https://www.aclu.org/blog/prisoners-rights-criminal-law-reform/stop-incarceration-profit-your-state

v     Report: Private prison companies boost incarceration rates for profit    http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/25/988397/-Report-Private-prison-companies-boost-incarceration-rates-for-profit# 

v     Louisiana Fact Sheet Cradle to Prison Pipeline http://www.childrensdefense.org/child-research-data-publications/data/state-data-repository/cradle-to-prison-pipeline/cradle-prison-pipeline-louisiana-2009-fact-sheet.pdf

v     GEO Group Wants Naming Rights for Stadium http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/19/florida-atlantic-football-stadium_n_2720223.html

v     By the Numbers: The United States Growing For Profit Detention Industry: http://www.propublica.org/article/by-the-numbers-the-u.s.s-growing-for-profit-detention-industry

v     Jaling Americans for Profit: The Rise of the Prison Industrial Complex: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-w-whitehead/prison-privatization_b_1414467.html  

v     Prisons for Profit-Corporations are running many American prisons—are they puttings profits before prisoners? http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/419/video.html

v     The Economist takes on America's obsession with prison http://thejha.org/node/91   

v     DOJ: Prison Inmate Population Shows Modest Decline

v     http://www.npr.org/2013/04/16/177420674/doj-prison-inmate-population-shows-modest-decline  

Disclaimer:  No legal advice should be implied from this posting.  Consult your respective Senator, Congressional representative, or State or local official.  

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[1] http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p12ac.pdf

[2] CCA-Corrections Corporation of America- http://www.cca.com/cca-research-institute/

[3] Corrections Corporations of America Stockmarket-CWX-  http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Corrections_Corporation_of_America_(CXW)

[4] GEO Group- http://geogroup.com/

[5] GEO Group Stockmarket-  http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/GEO

[6] DNA- http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics/dna

[7] Public-Private Partnerships- http://www.fema.gov/plan-prepare-mitigate

[8] Pros and Cons for Public Private Partnerships – (Jon Howell, EHow Contributor) http://www.ehow.com/info_8110862_pros-cons-private-prisons.html     

[9] http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-03-01/buying-prisons-require-high-occupancy/53402894/1

[10] Louisiana Prison Rate highest in US: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_incarceration_rate

[11]  U.S. Violent Crime is Down- http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/29/justice/us-violent-crime/ 

[12] Social Security Insolvent?- http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/06/history-suggests-social-security-insolvency-is-coming-sooner-than-projected

[13] Corrections Corporation of America Lobbying dollars- http://www.propublica.org/article/by-the-numbers-the-u.s.s-growing-for-profit-detention-industry

[14] The GEO Group Lobbying dollars- http://www.propublica.org/article/by-the-numbers-the-u.s.s-growing-for-profit-detention-industry