It’s an old joke: A conservative is a liberal who got mugged. Turns out it works the other way too—at least when it comes to former California Assemblyman Pat Nolan. Nolan was a fire-breathing, lock-em-up, law-and-order conservative….And then he went to prison.
Nolan was elected to represent the California’s 41st district in 1978, and, for the next fifteen years, he was he was one of the state lawmakers who pressed hardest for more prisons and for the kind of ever-tougher sentencing laws that have helped create California’s monstrously over-crowded, revolving door prison system.
Then in the mid-1990’s Nolan himself went to the pen for racketeering in an FBI sting known as Shrimpscam. After his 26 months in lockup, he came out a different person, politically and philosophically speaking. Now Nolan is a persuasive evangelist for prison reform.
Nolan’s personal saga has been told in smaller bites in other publications over the last couple of years, but the LA Times has put the whole thing together in a column one story that’s very much worth the read.
“If hospitals were failing to heal two out of three patients,” asks Nolan, “would we continue to pour money into them? Of course not. So shame on those who defend the status quo.”
(Well, actually in Los Angeles we do continue to pour money into failing hospitals. But we take your point.)
Perhaps if we send all of the Sacramento Politicians to Prison for a year and send all the LAUSD administrators and supervisors to Jefferson High School for a year, we might have some real progress in month 13.
Nolan was a fire-breathing, lock-em-up, law-and-order conservative….And then he went to prison.
Celeste, do you see the contradictions here? Apparently, Nolan only appeared as a law-and-order conservative, but had ceased to be one. Do I understand that you look favorably on his new job and the role of Chuck Colson’s prison ministry? Why haven’t I known this before?
Pokey, the problem with board of education leaders is that they were educated in government schools.
Woody, Chuck Colson bugs me in terms of some of his politics, but I have great admiration for his prison ministry.
P.S.—Pokey, I like your thinking!!!
Seems like Pat Nolan isn’t the only person to have had this precise conversion experience. Wish I could remember some of the other individuals who have done this precise 180.
There is one element of which I’m becoming profoundly fatigued when it comes to the language of political orientation – which may, or may not be, genetically endowed – ie; conservative. I’m longing for the distinction of the conservative more typically, traditionally, historically associated with American politics from the authoritarian element that conservative has come to signify recently. I know any number of conservatives who aren’t one bit authoritarian in their outlook. I suspect this next national election may, once again, delineate the difference.
Let’s hope the next election doesn’t have a liberal who believes that the force of government should be used to impose government health care on individuals or refuse to allow school choice for students.
I am a gang expert for the Superior Courts of Los Angeles. Does anyone know how I can contact Mr. Nolan?
Hi Kimi,
Pat Nolan is the president of an organization called Justice Fellowship. Here’s their website where you’ll find contact info:
http://www.justicefellowship.org/site_hmpg.asp
I need to have Pat’s e-mail address so I can send him some ideas that I have for Prisoners job training.
I am working with Mule Creek Prison to start a training program.
Linn Corey 916-363-3870
Linn, see the comment right above you for a web link that also has a phone number.
C.
to Linn Corey and Kimi Scudder…Pat and I have been best of friends since we were in Youth for Reagan for Governor in 1966. If you want Pat’s direct email address, contact me at
AllenBrandstater@aol.com