Last week > Anamosa State Penitentiary Prison

On last Monday, we went to Anamosa State Penitentiary Prison, the largest correctional institution of Iowa. The Prison was built 130 years ago by the inmates themselves and holds more than 1200 inmates. We first visited the Museum that explained both the history and the current operation of the prison. There was a replica cell (very small!), explanation about infamous prisoners of past years, the contraband network and the weapons they made with simple objects (knifes, etc.). We made a tour of the prison, visiting the workshops where the inmates worked (they made and sold the tables and chairs for primary schools; they made the license plates for Iowa cars, etc.). It was like a big city within the city. Prisoners could do sport, play cards, study in the library, etc.
We had the great opportunity to meet 2 prisoners: one was very young (28-29 years old) and was in jail for 8 years. He was held for having sex with an underage girl. While he was in the prison, he prepared a degree in management and business. A Spanish university was mailing him books and lectures that he could study by himself. He told us that the prison was for him like a big Campus, where everybody knows one another. He explained that there was not a lot of crime and threats within the prison (as we could see in the movie and on TV). He talked a bit about Spanish prisons: there are more comfortable, prisoners are allowed to have lap tops. However, punishment is longer. Prisoners must serve a minimum of 2/3 of their sentence. This is different in the USA and in Anamosa because each day they can win 1,2 days of liberty if they do some good deeds and have a good behavior.

The other one was in jail for more than 20 years. It was his third time in prison. He was before in California. This prisoner was an ‘exception’ because he was suffering from a cancer. He was about to be sent in another jail to be treat better. If it works he will have still about 10 years to live, and if not, only 2 years. He explained that prisoners are often alone, being separated from and sometimes forgotten by their families. Prisoners are allowed to be visited 3 times a month.

In class, we learned that sometimes witnesses were terrified to testify because of reprisals. Some State Penitentiary Prisons have Witness Protection Program, but in Anamosa there is not this program.

This day was really interesting and we finished our trip with a very good memory of all the activities we did, like this one.

Chicago : the city of skyscrapers

During our Spring break, we went to Chicago. We visited the Art Institute and the Chicago History Museum. We went to the Hancock tower and could see a beautiful view of Chicago’s skyscrapers. We also attended a lot of events: a Jazz concert at Andy’s Jazz Club, a Chicago Bulls vs. New Orleans Hornets basketball game. That was amazing: it is not only a game, it is a show! During break times, a lot of activities were organized: baby race, dances, singing competition, mascot race, etc. People seem to be crazy about that. Moreover, as I said in previous articles, sport is very important for American people, it is really a big part of their culture.
We were lucky to be in Chicago during St Patrick’s Day. We had the chance to see the dyeing of the Chicago River green. This was just incredible! St Patrick’s Day is a big event in Chicago; everybody was disguised and wearing green clothed and accessories. We attended the 3-hour parade, where Irish associations and sport clubs, American army, politicians paraded. The night, we went out and had a drink in an Irish pub. I don’t know how much Irish people are there in Chicago but we went to an area where there were a lot of Irish pubs. It is a kind of community within the city. This day, I really had the felling to be one year ago, because I spent my last year in Ireland, near Dublin. I found the same atmosphere again.

"Shovel Ready Tour" of Culver

In another article from the Telegraph Herald of Sunday, March 22, I read that Gov. Culver was doing a « Shovel Ready Tour » around eastern Iowa in order to « continue to pitch his plan to spend $750 million on projects aimed at generating thousands of jobs ». He would like people to press legislators to pass his plan. That shows that the financial crisis is not only a federal matter but also a state and local one. So Culver went to Davenport, Clinton, Maquoketa, etc. These $750 million would be repaid over 20 years from gambling profits. It reminds me something we learned in class : gambling (after property taxes) is one of the main public incomes in the State and localities. Culver hopes to create tens of thousands of jobs with this money. Once again, he came and met people in order to talk to them about what is going on.

Close democracy and openness

In Des Moines, we had lunch with the staff of the Capitol and had drinks with them every night. This is something that could never happen in France: even if France is a democratic country, politicians are not really ready to welcome people and listen to their point of view, requests, concerns, etc. Here, it was really different. Politicians were really open, and I think that what defines the American political system : openness. For me the principle of subsidiarity is important. Nobody up could do what could be done by somebody down : democracy is so more efficient and much more adapted to the needs of people. They think that election is not enough : citizens have still the duty to take part of the democratic system and politicians have the duty to pay attention to citizens’ request (as they are accountable to them).
I read an article on the Internet about local news that makes me think about that. The Governor of Iowa, Chet Culver, had proclaimed in Iowa City « Sunshine Week » from March, 15 to March, 21. The aim of this week is to highlight the importance of a free press and to emphasize on open government and access to information. The article said that « Culver said President Barack Obama has made open government a federal priority and says the right to share information without fear of retribution is essential to a free society ». That is what we observe in Des Moines too, and that open government is not only a « federal priority » - as the article said, but also a state priority. Iowa is ranked 31st in government openness.

Seventh week > Des Moines

Thanks to our Local Politics class, we had the chance to go to Des Moines and visit the State Capitol. The goal of this trip was to have a better idea about how democracy works in the State Government, and also to meet someone who could help us in our thesis (it could be a State representative, a Governor, etc.). I did not find someone who could give me some information about Thomas Jefferson’s conception of democracy, as it was a historical topic. By chance, I meet the Governor Danielson while we were having a drink together. I was surprised to see how much he knew about that as it was not his domain of competence. The problem was that our discussion lasted only 15 minutes because he had to attend a session. He gave me information about what Jefferson did and how he influenced the way the USA are governed today (for example, he created the Electoral College that is still used today).
We made a tour of the Capitol and we were told that it was built by French architects. It did not surprise me a lot because it is the same kind of building we are used to see in Paris.

Postville and illegal immigrants

In class we talked about immigration. We learned that immigration was one of the 5 big issues that the USA face today. States prohibit unauthorized immigrants from obtaining professional licenses. In Iowa, immigration is also a big issue. In the news, I heard about Postville is a big immigration city. There are a lot of concentration of Jewish, Hispanic (from Mexico) and Croatian people. One day, the Federal government came by surprise in a processing plant working on Kosher meat. The owners were Jewish and there was a high level of Hispanic workers, especially from Mexico. The Federal government made numerous arrests. This was considered as the biggest bust in the USA for illegal immigrants. Some were processed and sent back to Mexico and their families returned overthere too.
The owners of the plant were arrested too and charged with numerous labor practices : poor wages, unsafe working conditions, illegal immigrants, children workers (around 14-15 years old), etc. About children workers, the plant broke labor laws because children do not have the right to work during school hours and they generally can not work i a plant like that. At this point, they stand on trial.
The problem is that most of them did not speak English so there were communication barrier. For them, they were coming in the USA, working, and got a better wage than in Mexico. However, they got lower job than usually for American people. They are ready to get a dirty and messy job than no job at all (that the American people, as French are not ready to do).

The Thunderbirds at Five Flags !

On Friday the 6th, we attended a hockey game at Quad City Flames at Five Flags Center, Dubuque. The team we supported was the Thunderbirds from Dubuque.

We had a good place but we were in the middle of teenagers who seemed to be not really interested and were coming and going all the time.

Once again, the match began by the National Anthem sung by a lady. The match began very violently because players were fighting and they bumped into the plastic ledge of the ice rink. There were 2 mascots for each team and a lot a shows ans games were organised during the breaks. Sport is not only a game but it is also a show, entertaining people more than if it was also a simple 1 hour-game.

We had a lot of fun even if I was a bit disappointed by the area we were sat... However, we enjoyed participating in a Dubuque sport event and support our team as temporary members of the community.