Building More Jails

In response to “Courts Have Done What They Can” by Jack E. Goertzen (Op-Ed Page, Nov. 17), I would observe at the risk of appearing overly simplistic that the real answer to jail overcrowding is not building more jails. Two questions are relevant to the subject of a nation attempting to pen up a quarter-million men: Is this a civilized society or is this not a civilized society?

By the time youngsters have reached the age where the courts must deal with them it is already too late. A strong, healthy, law-abiding society looks to the upbringing of its children. A society that does not properly bring up its children will be a one-generation society.

The outlandish sums spent on “correction” are wasted monies because they are applied after the damage is done. When a society assigns the role of baby sitter to the TV industry, the role of juvenile recreation director to the drug industry and the role of value-setting and moral inculcation to the “free market,” it will find itself exactly where we are today. We will not be able to build enough prisons.

Is it a failure of leadership? No, we choose our own leaders. It is we who are dumb. In the words of the old timer in “Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” “We are dumber than the dumbest jackass.”

WILLIAM B. ANDERSON

Costa Mesa