Are prisons these days fair?

You have read of prisons or heard of them. The most famous is Alcatraz prison in san francisco. the official escapes is zero, but there is a rumor that a couple of guys escape. Was prison that bad that these guys escape? Prisons have changed in hundred years. Are they as fair as they were in the past?

Are they getting too much freedom/ or not getting enough freedom?

are they overcrowded/or do they have plenty of room to add more prisoners?

what do you think of prisoner having free cable?

How do you think prisoners should spend their time in prison?

Do you think they are there mainly for punishment or for rehablitation?

What do you think of chain gangs or having prisoners work outside as a part of their sentence?

Are the 4x8 cells big enough? should they be bigger or small? If so by how much?

Do the prison get enough state aid to operate right or are they short staff?

How do the prisons today differ from prisons in the 1930's?

Thank you,

Simon Auth

funny laws

How do laws need to be changed in our country? Which laws stand in the way of our personal freedom? For instance, do you think everyone should have to show an ID before purchasing alcohol- even if you're 65? This is a law in some states already, and other states are tryingto get it passed.
Other examples: Do you think it shoul be a law to wear you seat belt? Should there be a law to wear you helmet while on your motorcyle? Why not then while on your bicycle? What do you think about the state -wide smoking law that will go into effect next year?
Please tell me what you think of some the laws in our country or state and how they need to be changed. Thank you!
jennifer chounard

Is hunting wrong?

Is hunting ethical or unethical? Why do you think so? What about people who only hunt for sport and not for food? If you are a hunter, please explain your reasons for hunting. If you're not a hunter, why aren't you? Are you against it? Do you think others shouldn't hunt or is it just a personal preference for you?

Hunting facts- http://www.idausa.org/facts/hunting.html OR

http://www.chaos.org.uk/~maureen/issues.html

Thanks for taking the time to give me your input!
Emily Bown

Organic vs Chemicals

Is the lawn care industry endangering the environment, or are the environmentalists endangering the lawn care industry? Or do you think both are true? What changes should be made? Should the lawn care industry be looking into more organic alternatives? Does the consumer want an organic alternative? Are the environmentalists making a big stink about nothing? Please visit the web sites below and give me your most educated opinion as time allows.

Thank you!

Jason Gordon

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=investigative&id=5252408

http://kcchronicle.com/articles/2007/07/08/business/national_and_international/doc469099198e2f8308900666.txt

Chief Illiniwek

Why do you think the chief was retired by the university? Who put the most pressure on to ban him? Do you think the university should have succumbed to this pressure? The chief had been the Illini mascot since 1926. Should the U of I have tried harder to keep him? Do you think it was too politically correct to remove the chief?

Here are some sites to visit if you do not know much about this issue:

www.honorthechief.org
www.prairienet.org/prc/prcanti.html

Why is eletroshock therapy (also called electroconvulsive therapy) used as a form of treatment for depression and other conditions? Is it effective or cruel? Do you think Illinois should ban the use of eletroshock therapy? Why or why not?

To learn more about electroshock therapy, please visit these sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy

http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20070408211935data_trunc_sys.shtml

http://namiscc.org/newsletters/Sept01/ect.htm


Lena Fatheree

Immigration

What do you think of the immigrants who are in this country and who are entering this country? Do you think we need tougher immigration laws? Do you think we issue too many green cards and visas? Do you have an idea how many illegal immigrants there are in the United States? (Please take a guess.) Do you know how many illegal immigrants cross our borders each month? (Again, please guess.)

Please visit these websites for more information on immigration:

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/07/womens_rights_factsheet.html
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/05/immigration_bill.html
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/domestic/immigration?_kk=immigration&kt=8ccb3b-a7de-49fe=aeda-197c08c51d79


Brian Siscoe

Jenna's question on the effect of t.v. and video games on children.

Do you think t.v. and video games are affecting children today? If so, in what ways? Do you think that children are seeing too much violence in video games and on t.v.? How do you think this will affect their lives later on in life?

Here are some interesting websites about this topic:

http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/video.games.html

http://www.babybag.com/articles/amaviol.htm

http://www.psychologymatters.org/videogames.html

Thanks for your imput!

Jenna Kirts

Global Warming

Do you think Global Warming is a real issue? Do you think Earth will look different and feel different in 30 years? Some people think scientists are creating theories and throwing out numbers to scare people. Others feel those theories are real. If you do think global warming is real do you think you are making an effort to fight it? Give examples.

Please visit these sites before responding (and if possible please refer to lines in these articles in your response). Thank you.

http://ecobridge.org/content/g_evd.htm

http://prisonplanet.com/articles/march2007/090307warminghoax.htm

http://fightglobalwarming.com/

Angie

Cory's question on Barry Bonds and performance enhancing drugs

Henry Aaron owns the career homerun record of 755, but his record is in jeopardy of being broken by Barry Bonds. Bonds is currently 4 homeruns shy of tying, and 5 homeruns shy of breaking Hank Aaron's record. However, Bonds was recently found guilty of using Human Growth Hormones, an illegal performance enhancing substance that helps athletes to gain muscle, strength, speed, and can basically reverse the eging process. Do you think that their should be a seperate record if/when Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron's record for career homeruns? If not, should there at least be an asterisk by Bonds' name in the record books to show that he used performance enhancing drugs? Should Bonds be banned from Major League Baseball? In your opinion, should professional athletes be able to legally use performance enhancing drugs?

Hammerin' Hank Aaron Bonds in 1998 Bonds today