We hear echoes of past battles in the quiet whisper of the sweetheart deal, in the hushed promise of a better break for the better connected. We hear them in the cries of the false patriots who bully dissenters into silence and submission.
TK
7-27-2004
Look out kid
It’s somethin’ you did
God knows when
But you’re doin’ it again
-Dylan
Earlier today at a show in Connecticut we were having a casual question and answer period. During that time I said that “the current administration had passed a law” that would deny a student financial aid for college if they had a drug conviction. I would like to correct myself on that statement. It was passed as part of the HEA Higher Education Act in 1998 during the Clinton administration. Originally the act was about lowering student loan interest, forgiving debt for teachers in low income and needy areas, and adding more money for student aid…It was started by Sen Harken (D) Iowa and the late Sen Wellstone (D) Minnesota. It was then amended by Senator McKeon (R) CA to contain the language about drug convictions. Somehow the part about drug convictions didn’t seem to bother any of the people who voted for it or they more likely let it slide so they could get the other “important part” passed. Either way it seems to me somewhat of a well meaning but unfair law. Kids that come from high income families are not affected while kids that depend on financial aid are hurt and marginalized by society at a time when their education and development is critical. I mean it shows no faith in the humans ability to mend his/her ways. I’m glad that when I went to college the people that gave me aid didn’t look at my sometimes errant past but rather my future potential.To learn more or to see how your favorite representative voted on this and other issues go to the links below
Project Vote Smart voting records
What good am I if I’m like all the rest,
If I just turned away, when I see how you’re dressed,
If I shut myself off so I can’t hear you cry,
What good am I?
-Dylan
I would like to share with you a story about a womens rehab in New York called Project Greenhope. They have an amazing success rate. I learned more about this place from a program called NOW on PBS. Below I have pasted the link to the transcript and also some highlights of the information that I gathered.
Some Highlights:
“Of the roughly 100,000 women currently behind bars experts believe that 70 percent are addicted. Only a small percentage of them receive any treatment at all.
“If we’re committed to corrections, it’s supposed to be corrections. And when they finish correcting, they should be able to get on with their life when they get on the outside. But we have these post conviction obstacles that we put in their way, that they’re not able to get on with their lives. So what are you encouraging them to do but go back to prison? Case in point: in most states, in an effort to keep drug dealers out of housing projects, ex-cons can’t qualify for it. But without a place to live it’s tough for a person fresh out of prison to get back on her feet.
And so they’re forced to get rooms that may cost them $100 a week. So now how much latitude did someone have when they’re making $150 a week maybe, and then they have to pay $100 or $75 a week for a room? So that’s a problem.
In many states ex-felons can’t get food stamps, drivers’ licenses or student loans. They’re barred from dozens of jobs that require state licenses, such as hairdressers or bus drivers.
Of the roughly 100,000 women currently behind bars experts believe that 70 percent are addicted. Only a small percentage of them receive any treatment at all.
How much does it cost to salvage a person’s life? Rehab programs like Greenhope cost roughly 20,000 dollars a year for each woman, paid for by a combination of state money and private contributions.
The irony is that the therapy and treatment is far cheaper than the 32,000 dollars a year it costs taxpayers to keep a non-violent drug offender behind bars.”
Let us rethink our strategies and let our ELECTED OFFICIALS know that we do not support the war on drug addicts.
Your old road is Rapidly agin’.
To Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabamba for his antiquated and bigoted remarks on the Senate floor today: Your speech sounded like the same racsit drivel from the years of the civil rights struggles. Your condescending tone to those who are different than you show little understanding of the world let alone your constituents. If you have a CD player or in your case an eight track no..no.. a victrola.. please find a scratchy old 78 of Bob Dylan’s 2nd album and hear the following words. Reflect on them.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.
Having a fun summer and enjoying some time off. I shaved my head and climbed a mountain.
