Latest Moan From You and Me 2024

If our prisons are so full that the government are having to release prisoners extra early and the guy who has been put in charge of prisons (Mr Timpson, who I have a huge deal of respect for) is saying that there are a lot of folks in prison that really shouldn't be there as it is not actually doing any good.. meanwhile we have streets and roads strewn with litter and weeds, we have public parks and green spaces that are unkempt, potholed roads and so on, why are we not having sentences of public service (on tag/licence if necessary) that are genuinely to the benefit of the public?

 

I've just had another dig with a pin - not managed to find whatever is in there, but I did get some crud out which has relieved the pressure somewhat.

 

sam cooke chain gang - Recherche Google

 

Not quite sure I'd have them chained together and smashing rocks.... but surely even a modern form of that? Someone who is unskilled and unemployed who may well feel that the world is against them, has gotten angry and done something stupid -- jail might simply make matters worse. But if their 'punishment' was working with road crews and perhaps learning to operate a JCB with a drill attachment - not only do you get more workers to build new roads, but convicts learning new skills and perhaps even getting a full time job.

The company I work for had an agreement with a local open prison for quite a while - the prison released prisoners to us to become bus drivers; we trained them and they worked the shifts given, with it being incumbent upon us to tell the prison which shifts they were working so they knew when they would be expected in and out (allowing for travel); the prisoner got boosted "spends" in the prison and the remainder of their earnings were held in a bank account so they could get it when they were finally released. Worked well for a long time and we did end up with a good few staying on after they were released, not least because they appreciated the support and not being simply identified by their crime.

 

Not sure that the facilities would exist inside prison to teach them how to drive forklifts, JCB's etc - that is the sort of thing that I'd imagine the only way to learn is by doing it on job sites.

 

True indeed, and if the facility is there to do it, I think it is a great idea.

 

My moan today (other than my finger) is my onions... something seems to have munched the tops off my onions!

They weren't doing particularly well anyway, so I will likely just lift them all tomorrow and get some pickling vinegar in, but I was hoping that if left a bit they might grow on to be half decent.