Oklahoma is #5

[cannon_fodder]

In per capita incarceration.   1 in every 76 Oklahoman's is incarcerated in some capacity.  

Louisiana,
MIssissippi,
Georgia,
Alabama,
and Oklahoma.

[Townsend]

Sweet, finally I have a reason for my "We're #4" foam hand.

[TURobY]

Looking at that map, it looks like we beat Texas too.

[PonderInc]

Hey, don't forget women!  Aren't we #1 in incarceration rates for women?

(Sometimes, being number one doesn't feel that great...  Is that what they mean by a pyrrhic victory?)

[Wrinkle]

So, when California sends 800 prisoners to Oklahoma prisons, do they become "Oklahomans"?

Could mean we're #5 in a well-developed public/private prison system.

...but, I doubt it.

[Wrinkle]

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

Looking at that map, it looks like we beat Texas too.

Yeah, 71 v 76.

Counting OU and OSU BB, that's 2 of 3.

[cannon_fodder]

I refuse to acknowledge Texas as a state.  Their petition for admission to the Union was denied twice.  Then they had the balls to try to succeed a few year later.  So the hell with 'em.

Either that or I just overlooked the largest contiguous state.

So we're #6!  Or 5.  Either way, it's pretty high.  

Our demographics are very odd in all manners.  2 urban centers accounting for 2/3rds of the state population.  The eastern half containing 9/10ths of the population.  By why Oklahoma would be 76 and New Mexico 90, or Kansas 120... I just don't get it.

[Townsend]

Dang, foam hand stays in the attic.

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by Wrinkle

So, when California sends 800 prisoners to Oklahoma prisons, do they become "Oklahomans"?

or (slightly related), who really believes no Oklahoma taxpayer money is going to support our mega prison industry?

[TheArtist]

Oklahoma, the conservatists shining city on a hill. Btw, arent a lot of those top states also states that get far more federal money than they put in, yet have prominent republicans decrying earmarks and the like?

Why is it Oklahoma, the state that should be the finest example of the results of conservatism has such poor rankings when it comes to; health, poverty, hunger, divorce, drug use, child neglect and abuse, obesity, tobacco use, crumbling infrastructure,infant mortality rates, etc. etc. etc.? On top of that we are blessed with oil and natural gas resources, great farming potential, etc. that many other states would give there eye teeth to have. That oil wealth has been like manna from heaven to this state. So that coupled with our "one of the lowest over all tax burdens", highly religious, very conservative nature... Businesses should be flocking here and expanding like crazy. Roses should fall like rain on our blessed state.  BUT, when you look at the facts that really matter, where the rubber meets the road, the end results for our peoples lives is... more misery, poor health and death than average?  Something akin to third world countries. How can this be? And do conservatives really want the rest of the country to be more like our shining example? Or is it because we are not yet conservative enough?

Reminds me of Afghanistan and the Taliban (speaking of limited government control and religious fundamentalism) or some other very conservative middle eastern countries. They will say much of their problems are from not being conservative enough, the punishments and laws not strict enough, people not being religious enough... We look at those countries and see that they obviously are going down the wrong path (I hope). Yet when people come here and see our stats and hear our politicians and leaders saying we need to be even MORE conservative to solve our problems, have harsher punishments, rail against gays, decry evolution as a myth, want to set up the 10 commandments at the zoo, want to teach "intelligent design"... How odd that must look. Of course some people will love it and say its wonderful lol. But again, the results of our beliefs, the facts of our way of life, are plain to see.

Oh, but we get to keep more of our holy dollars from going to taxes. Thats the kind of thing they focus on, get people riled up about, and speak up about over and over.  Isnt that what really matters? Who cares about things like child neglect and mortality rates, divorce, drug abuse, poverty, hunger, incarceration rates, a persons health, crime,,, Lets talk about taxes and limited government instead.  

I am not saying that liberalism is all right, and conservative thinking all wrong. But I cant help but look at these things and wonder?




 

[Wrinkle]

Artist, It's due to Dems being in control of the Legislature for over half a century.

[nathanm]

Artist, It's due to Dems being in control of the Legislature for over half a century.

A Democrat in Oklahoma would be a Republican almost anywhere else. A Republican in Oklahoma is more likely a theocrat.

[Wilbur]

First, I'd like to think our excellent ranking is due to great law enforcement!!   

But, I would also add:

1.  Do you realize what it takes to FINALLY get incarcerated in this state?  How many times you get arrested and convicted before you finally spend one day in the prison?  And when that day finally comes, who they have to release to make room for you?

2.  People only complain about Oklahoma's incarceration rate when that type of ranking comes out.  When they have become a victim of a crime, they cry when the offender doesn't end up in jail.  You can't win.

[Wrinkle]

A Democrat in Oklahoma would be a Republican almost anywhere else. A Republican in Oklahoma is more likely a theocrat.

Perhaps, as it relates to common folk, but there's more moderate Repubs around than you credit.

And, OK's Dem Legislators have tended to act more like their national average counterparts than the public.

There's no grounds for placing any of OK's current problems (or accomplishments) on Repubs. Once the ultra right get through pounding a few issues, something good may happen, though. Bottled up too long.

[TheArtist]

Why are there so many people that need to be incarcerated in Oklahoma? Why is the crime rate so high in general? Are the laws stricter (to supposedly, better deter crime), or are there just more "bad" people? Or both. Haven't checked to see if its true, but heard someone say that the US has more people in prisons than China and Russia... combined.  And Oklahoma ranks as one of the highest incarcerating states?

There is a thread on another website where people talk about different cities homicide rates and keep a running tally for different cities around the world. Many US cities have rates that are much lower than Tulsa. But what floored me was when someone from some cities in Europe or Canada would post their current numbers. Copenhagen... pop 1,150,000,,,13 homicides for the entire year of 2008. Amsterdam...pop 755,000,,, 18.  Greater London.... pop 7,855,600,,, 153 homicides.  Evil, secular, socialist, high tax, government controlled, liberal, welfare state, gov controlled health care, European city? Conservative bastion, bible belt, limited government, pick yourself up by your bootstraps, individualist, Tulsa...pop 385,000,,,54 homicides last year.  Seattle 28, Austin 23.

Why are our infant mortality rates so high? Child abuse and neglect rates so high? Tobacco and drug use rates so high? Diabetes rates so high? Mortality rates in general so high? Rates of hunger so high? etc. etc.

Dems or Repubs in charge or not, this is a very conservative state, period. We have low taxes compared to many states and European countries.  Spend comparatively, very little on Liberal social programs, public schools, civic infrastructure, etc. Because we believe that government is not the answer, that its the individuals money and they can spend it more wisely than the government. That our lives will be better if we keep more of our money and let the individual donate to help the needy, better society, or fend for themselves. But again, the actual health and welfare ( and crime/incarceration rates) of our citizens don't seem to bear that out?