For The Love Of Port

I had no idea. I'll admit that I am very surprised this took place in Portugal.

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/is ... s_ss=email

What do you think of this?

The government is being practical with how they spend. Too many non-violent criminals end up in prison. Medical care is more appropriate than incarceration for the drug abusers. Seeing that prison is more & more privatized in USA, I don’t think there will be a push for this approach. Lobbyists will fight tooth and nail to ensure as many Americans are behind bars as possible.

So far, the Lobbyists have been effective. Almost 1% of USA population is behind bars and 3.2% are on probation, in jail/prison, or on parole.

I think Moses has it right -- follow the money. As long as the people who write the laws (to be passed by tame congress-critters) derive their pay and power from the size of their departments, they will write laws that make their corner of the government bigger.

Moses Botbol wrote:Almost 1% of USA population is behind bars

That's a staggering statistic!!

Here is the league table.

You guys in the USA definitely seem to be world champions at this game

When comparing country to country, be careful for statistics skewed by execution as a form of punishment. If they're dead they aren't in prison. They also aren't a source of money or power for those who make the laws.

So far, the Lobbyists have been effective. Almost 1% of USA population is behind bars and 3.2% are on probation, in jail/prison, or on parole.

Who said there's no such thing as free lunch ... and I'm not talkin' about the inmates.