Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jan 2010 Source: Toronto Star (CN ON) Copyright: 2010 The Toronto Star Contact: http://www.thestar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456 Author: Russell Barth THE TORY/LIBERAL CRIME AGENDA Re: 'Tough on crime' stance needs scrutiny, Opinion Jan. 2 The Tories' crime policies have two functions: 1. Pander to their myopic, visceral, punishment-happy voter base. This "tough" stance makes anyone who speaks sensibly about crime sound "soft," which is why Liberals have gone along with it instead of pointing out how insane it is. 2. Develop a U.S.-style for-profit prison system. Crime has been dropping for 30 years, so they need to justify all of this ridiculous spending on cops, courts and cages to the public. The best way to fill up jails is to make more things illegal, or make things even more illegal. My only consolation: If these Tory/Liberal coalition gangster-subsidization bills unleash a violent and bloody Mexico-style drug war in Canada, maybe we'll start voting with our heads instead of our "gut." Russell Barth, Educators for Sensible Drug Policy, Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D