Pubdate: Thu, 06 Jun 2002
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Joe Switzer

EDUCATION BEST SOLUTION TO CERTAIN CRIMES

Columnist Marshal Frank had it right when he wrote in the Smoky Mountain 
News that our prisons cost taxpayers far too much to support.

We need to use them to lock up murderers, robbers and rapists, not to hold 
and support people who behave in ways we disapprove of, such as users of 
pot and various other drugs and also prostitution and gambling. 
"Misbehavior crime" is better dealt with through education. Locking people 
up in a cell means we support them and often their families as well. These 
locked up people no longer work and pay taxes.

They instead drain tax money from us all. If it makes sense to imprison 
people for doing things we disapprove of, why not imprison them for smoking 
or imbibing alcoholic beverages? Even for overeating and becoming obese - 
this costs taxpayers more for providing health care to people who cannot 
pay for it themselves. America has the largest percentage of citizens 
locked up in prisons of all developed countries around the world. The "drug 
war" has turned into a war against us all. The illegal drug trade supports 
the various terrorist groups operating around the globe. Give me a break.

Joe Switzer,

Franklin
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MAP posted-by: Beth