Alan Elsner

Written by Alan Elsner, one of the last journalists. Like de Tocqueville before him, he visited jails and prisons in a dozen States. America warehouses more than 2 million of its own-- more than 8 times any other Western society.

Of particular interest is Elsner's ability to drill down to the widespread corruption in the "privatization" of the prison complex. This corruption by private "contractors" has made incarceration expensive, disease-ridden, pointless and unjust.

Citizens should be shocked, and lawyers and judges should find it intolerable. The politics of prisons is exposed for what it is -- false promises, false security, fraudulent expenses, and self-defeating incarceration. We are not safer, and the criminals are the ones making billions off the tax payers as they warehouse fairly harmless boys and girls caught using marijuana.

Tragically, Elsner apparently relies upon political conservatives to see through the hypocrisy and criminality of the GOP. The party of lock-up is not interested in making our communities safer, and they will not spend a dime to be more "humane". Hence, the "solutions" remain unavailable the problems are made worse.

The costs are enormous, and the GOP has actively prevented implementation of programs that would make prisons cheaper and our streets safer. Here is detailed proof of a serious problem formed in the Bush II Administration, drawn from documents and witnesses.… (mais)