Pubdate: Sun, 16 May 2004
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Copyright: 2004 The Arizona Republic
Contact:  http://www.arizonarepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author:   Kirk Muse
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n716/a05.html

INVEST IN EDUCATION, NOT PRISONS

Regarding the article Wednesday, "Prison-sentence reform
urged."

The United States is the most incarcerated nation on the planet and in
history.  Even though we have less than 5 percent of the world's
population, we in the U. S. have more than 25 percent of the world's
prisoners.  In other words, one out of every four prisoners in the
world in locked in an American jail or prison.  Is this something we
should be proud of?

I think not.

And generally the more a state spends on prisons, the less that state
will spend on education.  As an example, Louisiana spends the most per
capita on prisons and the least per capita on education.

On the other hand, Minnesota spends the most per capita on education,
and the least per capita on prisons.

Prisons and education compete for the same limited tax
resources.

Which is the better investment, education or prisons?

Kirk Muse
Mesa 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake