So What If It Doesn’t Work. What’s Important Is That Someone Suffers.

Whether the topic is the economy, the drug war, education, or Iraq, there is a large segment of society that feels that if people are not suffering due to the solution to a problem, the issue is not being handled correctly. The proof is the fact that so many problems are now “solved” by counterproductive measures.

Illegal immigration is a problem most people would acknowledge needs to be addressed in some form; but whipping the crazies into a xenophobic rage increasing hate crimes is not the answer.

With Iraq, one of the talking points, and one of the reasons a Fox News viewer would give as to why we’re there, is to fight terrorism. But anyone who thinks for a minute or two about this empathetically, or has read any objective reporting on the subject knows that bombing innocents creates terrorists, it doesn’t eliminate them. But to some, a more effective and measured approach to terrorism wouldn’t be as satisfying.

As for the economy, many people are perfectly fine with the bailout of the large financial companies, to the tune of hundreds of billions, but would go into apoplectic fits if the government gave this money to the hungry, homeless and infirm.

Money for education in lieu of money for prisons at a later date is also a big indicator of how some, contrary to common sense, decency and economics, demand that someone be punished to solve a problem. Study after study has shown that for pennies on a dollar, if money is invested in education, it is saved later by having fewer prisons. It is cheaper to educate than to incarcerate. Plus the fact that education helps the country in numerous other ways; such as keeping us competitive internationally. We would be much better off in the long run if we paid for our citizen’s education through college, than we would be trying to save money in the short run and increase our prison population every year.

Another case in point is the failed drug war. If a non-violent, working drug offender goes into prison for possession, what comes out is an unemployable, angry ex-con. We’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars, ruined millions of lives and people are still using drugs. But if we put a more effective and humane program into play, not as many would suffer.

And that just won’t do for the “punishment first” crowd.

Some people (maybe a majority of US voters) want to see the undeserving punished no matter what the cost is to themselves.

I recall a joke:

A peasant finds a middle-eastern looking lamp in his field. He brushes the dirt off the lamp, and out comes a magic genii.

The genii says, "I have traveled far from my home, and am very tired. I regret I can only give you one wish instead of three. Name your wish, master, and I shall grant it."

The peasant thinks long and hard about what one thing he would want more than anything else. Finally, he blurts out, "I want my neighbor's cow to die!"

but one that should be replaced with rational thought. (Loved your joke though.)

and if I had gone to San Pedro High, I would have been 2 grades ahead of DBoon/MWatt/Hurley

There are?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minutemen_(band)

Conservative hate/liberal schadenfraude

--without anesthesia, if the other half of the deal was that they get to watch someone they don't like have both hands sawn off.

decency and forgiveness seem to be oddly lacking.