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Thom's blog
AG Holder is re-thinking the War on Drugs
The Justice Department is overhauling the way they deal with non-violent offenders. Today, Attorney General Eric Holder will unveil a plan to change how the federal government prosecutes drug offenders. The goals of his plan are to ease prison overcrowding, save taxpayer money, and limit the use of unjust mandatory minimum sentences. Holder's prepared remarks say, “low-level, nonviolent drug offenders who have no ties to large-scale organizations, gangs, or cartels, will no longer be charged with offenses that impose draconian mandatory minimum sentences.”
Attorney General Holder wants to create local guidelines to determine which cases should be subject to federal charges, and he wants to work with Congress to give federal judges more discretion in applying harsh mandatory minimum sentences. It's unclear if these suggested changes are a direct result of several states decriminalizing marijuana, or if Eric Holder and the Justice Department are simply looking for a better way to handle drug-related crime.
Our current drug policy has led to soaring prison populations, sky-rocketing taxpayer costs, and huge profits for the private prison industry. Holder's remarks say that the changes he's suggesting could save our nation billions of dollars in prison costs, and he's even considering a plan to ease prison over-crowding by releasing inmates who “pose no threat to the public.” These changes could have a huge impact on how our nation deals with drugs, and reduce the number of people subjected to the for-profit prison industry.
Many Americans have called for similar changes to our Justice System for decades, and they'll be thrilled to see some common sense in our drug policy. It's unlikely that the for-profit prison industry and their shills in Congress will support this plan, but the majority of Americans agree with Eric Holder's desire to wind down Nixon's ill-conceived War of Drugs.
-Thom
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Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 9pm... Will Stop & Frisk be stopped? (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Have a question or comment for Thom? Grab your phone, hit record and send your video to YourTakeMyTake@gmail.com and we may air it on "The Big Picture."
Screwed: NSA - more snooping on the way- Amie Stepanovich, Electronic Privacy Information Center (E.P.I.C.) 
Plus, How Keystone XL is linked to fossil fuels- Elijah Zarlin, Credo Action
The Best of the Rest...
Where your meat really comes from...- Ocean Robbins, Food Revolution Network
Everything You Know Is Wrong: Medical Marijuana for pets? - Dr. Doug Kramer, Vet Guru
Daily Take: If sports had no rules...
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Friday's Daily Stack 
Hour One: Are we seeing the beginning of the end of freedom of the press?- Jeff Cohen, Park Center for Independent Media
Quote: "You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war." by William Randolph Hears.
Hour Two: Do you support the right to arm teenagers?- Neil McCabe, Guns & Patriots Newsletter
Article: " 14th Amendment - Citizenship, Due Process Clause, Equal Protection.
Book: No Worse Enemy by Ben Anderson.
Hour Three: Is there a media double standard on racism?- Hayes Brown, Think Progress
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Monday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Hour One: Fukushima...is the "China Syndrome" happening?- Kevin Kamps, Beyond Nuclear
Judge declares baby's name unchristian...what?
Hour Two: Anything goes summer
Hour Three: Hour Three: If sports had no rules...
And, the best of the rest of the news and your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program...your media support group for "we the people"...
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Tuesday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
Congress is still trying to "reform" the USPS...we'll have a look at the latest proposal by Congressman Darrell Issa...and I'll confront conservative Don Soifer of the Lexington Institute...
Plus, tagging is now punishable by on the spot execution...WHAT?! I'll challenge conservative congressional candidate & former police officer Dan Bongino (R-MD, 6th District)...
And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"
And remember...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...
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Thom's Poll
Does Obama's NSA proposal go far enough?
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Watch & Listen to Thom
Conversations with Great Minds - Dr. Reza Aslan - Who was Jesus really...
Conversations with Great Minds - Dr. Reza Aslan - Was Jesus a revolutionary?
Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 8/9/13: Another Teen Killed By Police Taser
Tonight's "Big Picture Rumble" discusses the taser death of an 18-year-old by police in Florida, CNN's Sanjay Gupta's recent reversal on marijuana and how it's ridiculous to think that it's possible to build a strong economy with low-paying jobs. In tonight's "Conversations with Great Minds" Thom talks with religious scholar Dr. Reza Aslan, author of the new book "Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth."
Caller: Islam & Terror, we Need a Deeper Analysis
Do you Support the Right to arm Teenagers?
Is There a Media Double Standard on Racism?
The Devaluation of Newspapers
The Beginning of the end of Freedom of the Press?
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Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook. |
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