News (Media Awareness Project) - US FL: PUB LTE: Seek More Constructive Solutions |
| Title: | US FL: PUB LTE: Seek More Constructive Solutions |
| Published On: | 2003-08-20 |
| Source: | St. Petersburg Times (FL) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-19 16:18:15 |
SEEK MORE CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS
Re: Legislature Approves $66-Million To Expand State's Prison Capacity,
Aug. 14.
State Sen. Mike Fasano is pretty glib as he thunders, "Put the
criminals behind bars, where they belong."
He's also dead wrong: Only the violent belong in jail. Other
lawbreakers belong at jobs, earning money to pay taxes and
restitution.
It's really easy these days to become a criminal, as "legislators" (I
use the term loosely) deal with all problems by slapping jail terms on
those who don't have good lawyers. I believe that $66-million would be
much more productive if it was spent on education rather than shoring
up the prison-industrial complex.
Mindless sloganeering has characterized our "justice" system for too
long. Voters should demand more constructive solutions than simply
more jail time.
Re: Legislature Approves $66-Million To Expand State's Prison Capacity,
Aug. 14.
State Sen. Mike Fasano is pretty glib as he thunders, "Put the
criminals behind bars, where they belong."
He's also dead wrong: Only the violent belong in jail. Other
lawbreakers belong at jobs, earning money to pay taxes and
restitution.
It's really easy these days to become a criminal, as "legislators" (I
use the term loosely) deal with all problems by slapping jail terms on
those who don't have good lawyers. I believe that $66-million would be
much more productive if it was spent on education rather than shoring
up the prison-industrial complex.
Mindless sloganeering has characterized our "justice" system for too
long. Voters should demand more constructive solutions than simply
more jail time.
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