One man who cared about Kool Aid Drinkers

[Greg_Cornish]

Leo Joseph Ryan, Jr. (May 5, 1925–November 18, 1978) was an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served as a U.S. Representative from the 11th Congressional District of California from 1973 until he was murdered in Guyana by members of the Peoples Temple shortly before the Jonestown Massacre.

After the Watts Riots of 1965, then-Assemblyman Ryan took a job as a substitute school teacher to investigate and document conditions in the area. In 1970, he experienced life as an inmate in Folsom Prison, while presiding as chairman on the Assembly committee that oversaw prison reform. During his time in Congress, Ryan traveled to Newfoundland to investigate the inhumane killing of seals.

Ryan was also famous for vocal criticism of the lack of Congressional oversight of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and authored the Hughes-Ryan Amendment; the Amendment was dropped after his death. He was also an early critic of L. Ron Hubbard and his Scientology movement and of the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon.

On November 3, 1977, Ryan read into the United States Congressional Record a testimony by John Gordon Clark about the health hazards connected with destructive cults.

Ryan is the first and only Congressman to be killed in the line of duty.He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, in 1983.

Good Democrat. The only politician who cared enough to check it out.

[getalife]

Going to Guyana was a brave thing and the Congressional Gold Medal was well deserved.

None of the other stuff earns him any respect with me. I just have never cared much about life in Watts, life in prison, or how Newfoundland treats seals. Ryan was a good guy and I am sure his intentions were good, but don't make him into anything more.

[Greg_Cornish]

..... I just have never cared much about life in Watts, life in prison.....

Many white people don't care about life in Watts until life in Watts spills into white areas. In other words, the old power brokers in the 40s, 50s an d 60s couldn't care less about black on black crime even if the victims were good and decent people. The philosophy was, "As long as they keep it over there."

Some of these same people now want to police the world when we haven't even policed our back yards.

I care a lot about our prison system. I don't like the fact that its a training ground for more crime. I'd like to see the separation of the young first time offender for non violent crimes be separated from the hardened killers and I'd like to make sure that our guards aren't smuggling in contraband so guys like Richard Specht can actually enjoy his time in prison.

I'd like to get rid of the expensive weight room and see simple exercise programs replace them. If they get TV in their cells I'd like to see them watch only job training videos. I'd love to see Sheriff Joe from AZ take over the prison systems nation wide.

[Guy Kelley]

It's interesting to note that the State Of California prison Guard Union want to impeach Gov Arnold due to the fact that he dosen't cave to there demands on wage and health benefit issues. They are crying now because they have not had a new contract in two years. They were real happy when Gov Gray Davis gave them a 27 % raise and a huge jump in benefit's, even after it came to light that he received a huge chunk of money for his get re-elected campaign contribution for the prison guard union.

A tenured Guard makes $80,000.00 a year plus benefits with out overtime and a easy $100,000.00 with overtime.

Do I think their job is danger's yes I do, do I think that the unions are to powerful , with campain contrabutions and the sway over politicians, just like teachers and firefighters, Yep !!

On another note, No we don't worry about nothing until its on YOUR street !!!

What a sad commitary about what we as citizens who have the power of the vote, really do worry about.

If you think the prison system is run by the guards and warden , man are you naive, and I got some land in the Delta swamps that you might be interested in buying, real cheep

[Greg_Cornish]

If you think the prison system is run by the guards and warden , man are you naive, and I got some land in the Delta swamps that you might be interested in buying, real cheep

Who are you talking to?

[Guy Kelley]

Just running my big mouth off and standing on my soap box.

Touchy subject too me. prisons and stuff.

Sorry

[Greg_Cornish]

Just running my big mouth off and standing on my soap box.

Touchy subject too me. prisons and stuff.

Sorry