We're #1!

Submitted by Sonagi92 on Sun, 2006-12-10 00:48. ::
 
Quote:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tough sentencing laws, record numbers of drug offenders and high crime rates have contributed to the United States having the largest prison population and the highest rate of incarceration in the world, according to criminal justice experts.

A U.S. Justice Department report released on November 30 showed that a record 7 million people -- or one in every 32 American adults -- were behind bars, on probation or on parole at the end of last year. Of the total, 2.2 million were in prison or jail.

Read the rest here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061209/ts_nm/usa_prisoners_dc

This story was given the title "US Has Most Prisoners Due to Tough Laws," which makes the large prison population seem like a positive outcome of a law and order society, not a "lock 'em up and throw away the key" expensive and ineffective band-aid solution to serious social problems.

‹ Selling Guns - It's good for jobs and good for Britain! Is a 30-minute execution cruel and unusual punishment? ›
add new comment | quote | 321 reads | Feed for comments on this post
Chip
We're #1!
Submitted by Chip on Mon, 2006-12-11 23:25.

Solution: Legalize and and socialize drugs. A huge majority of crime in the states is related to trying to get drugs, or the money to pay for them. By legalizing them, the price would go down. Even with a lower price, taxes on the drugs could be incredibly high and still be much lower than the current price, so crime would decrease, and the funds raised by the taxes could then be used to fund research as well as programs designed to help people get OFF drugs (rather than criminalize drug users, why not try and help them overcome addictions?). I think it would be a win win situation! I've never used drugs, never will, but I understand the economics behind it and I think legalizing drugs would do a better job at lowering drug use than the current idiotic war on drugs.

reply | quote
Richard
We're #1!
Submitted by Richard on Wed, 2006-12-13 18:13.

The "war on drugs" is one of the most grotesque aberrations in our country's history. It is so absurd and so obscene and so wrong in every way, you can cry. So why do we continue to destroy innocent people's lives with heartbreakingly stupid mandatory sentences? Becuase of politics. A majority of Americans - and never forget we are a nation founded by pilgrims - believes the laws should be in place, because they see it as confirmation that we're "tough on crime." Morons, every one of them.

reply | quote
t_co
We're #1!
Submitted by t_co on Wed, 2006-12-13 19:00.

I don't get why drugs are illegal in the first place... I think we should remember Socrates' Apology, where he states that education is the first step toward encouraging the populace to do good, not legal fiat...

reply | quote
The Admiral
We're #1!
Submitted by The Admiral on Sat, 2006-12-16 08:32.

I don't personally use drugs. However I have many friends that did/did/have used them. I am, and always have been opposed to people 'ruining' their life, be it by abusing substances or by their lack of trying to become a better person.
But I am even more against living in a police state and that is what the USA has become in the last 15 years of my 37 on this earth.
:oops:

reply | quote
The Horses Mouth
We're #1!
Submitted by The Horses Mouth on Sun, 2006-12-17 18:30.
Richard wrote:
The "war on drugs" is one of the most grotesque aberrations in our country's history.

Friedman agrees.

reply | quote