There used to be a song that went something like “Oh, if I had the wings of an angel, over these prison walls I would fly.” The walls of prisons, of course, are intended, like most walls, both to keep in and keep out.Why it's surprising that I didn't make this connection: When I was in prison in '69, I learned the difference between professional criminals and lawbreakers. One manifestation of this difference is the attitude toward walls. Pro criminals enjoy most aspects of prison. They get to practice and learn their trade in a controlled lab environment, with hacks ready to halt a fight that gets too deadly. The inmate government offers valuable internships in white-collar crime, learning how to bribe and blackmail real officials. Pro criminals get food and housing without the hassle of maintaining a harem of white bitches for welfare checks. All fine and dandy, EXCEPT the walls. Knowing that the walls restrict MY TOTAL FREEDOM is the one hitch in the setup. Pro criminals, like Randians and techbullies and stockbrokers, need In Di Vi Du Al Lib Er Ty above all else. The rest of us need walls to protect us from all four castes.
Labels: defensible spaces
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