Ep. 4: Problems, Promises and Prison

Ep. 4: Problems, Promises and Prison

Author: The Driver July 12, 2019 Duration: 24:38

Politicians over promise on many things, nothing new there. Recently, I've heard a few candidates for the presidency have said they plan on reducing the prison population by 50% or more. 

Fun fact that I looked up just for you: There are currently between 2-2.5 million people currently in federal and state prisons and jails. 

Is that number too high? What should the number be? 0?

If these politicians free 1 million, who will they be? 

I tried to find hard numbers on violent vs. non-violent criminals and depending on the political views of the sources, results varied a ton. 

Main issue though for the podcast really concerned:

1) When somebody want to solve a problem, ask if it really is a problem to begin with

2) If it is a problem ask a follow up question like, "okay, how do you plan of tackling the issue with besides a willingness and motivation, like really?" 

3) Skepticism doesn't make you a pessimist. If anything it might help you and the miracle worker actually solve the problem once a coherent plan is made. 


Here are the things I mentioned:

Debate between Heather Mac Donald and Thaddeus Russell: HERE

Planet Money podcast about Japans worker issues: HERE 

Totally misspoke as well. The Japan issue was a worker shortage. Just listen to the planet money thing. It's interesting. 


Please follow the show on twitter: @400thoughts

If you have any questions or recommendations you can email the show at: 400thoughts.thedriver@gmail.com


Every week, before the sun comes up, The Driver hits the road. That quiet, mobile space becomes the recording studio for 400thoughts, a project born from the rhythm of the daily commute. The premise is straightforward but ambitious: four hundred episodes, delivered weekly, each one a snapshot of whatever ideas, curiosities, or observations happen to be occupying his mind. You won’t find a rigid schedule of topics here. Instead, this podcast meanders through society and culture, reflecting the host’s own shifting interests-a deep dive into a documentary one week, a reflection on a community trend the next, or a simple musing on the changing landscape seen from the driver’s window. It’s the audio equivalent of a long, winding conversation with a thoughtful friend who’s done a lot of reading and even more thinking. The result is an intimate and unpredictable collection, united more by a genuine sense of curiosity than by a single theme. Tune in for a dose of unscripted perspective, where each episode is a brief, companionable detour into the random thoughts of a random person, all while the miles roll by.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 37

400thoughts
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