Pubdate: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA) Copyright: 2009 Chico Enterprise-Record Contact: http://www.chicoer.com/feedback Website: http://www.chicoer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861 Note: Letters from newspaper's circulation area receive publishing priority Author: Michael Kalinowski FALSE REALITY CREATED PRISON PROBLEM Rehabilitation is a myth. Time served doesn't pay any debt to society, only burdens it with expenses. Victims are never justifiably compensated for criminal acts against them. Let's change enforcement policies and our perspectives to get more for our tax dollars. Institute chain gangs, prisoners willing to earn credits, for duties that benefit the state, earn early release; honor work like the current inmate fire crews. Road cleanup, habitat restoration, flood control, projects to protect California's infrastructure, work beneficial to society pays debts. Good behavior and time served don't. Prohibition created the Mafia's strength; prohibition drug laws promulgate a sundry of illegal acts and gangs. Drug companies could offset development and marketing costs of vital prescription drugs, through legalized recreational drugs, drying up illegal sources. Court, law enforcement, prosecution, public defender, and prison costs will be dramatically lower, savings allocated to pursue larger threats to Californians. Sales taxes can be used to fund ABC-type compliance, DARE, and drug rehab programs, with the balance and any additional enforcement savings going toward the state's debt. Enforce the death penalty in a fair manner, for timely executions. Euthanizing animals, that don't recognize their responsibility to society, takes too long and isn't cruel or unusual. Warehousing sociopaths, who will never be truly remorseful, who only play the game, is illogical and wasteful of strained resources. Bullets are cheaper than keeping condemned convicts healthy, while the state cuts programs for law-abiding citizens who can't afford medical care. Michael Kalinowski, Magalia - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake