THE JOKE'S ON US

Regarding Barry Saunders' May 20 column "The price of prison,
hilarious": State Rep. Ronnie Sutton provided the legislature with a
positive, progressive idea. Prison is not the answer for
drug-addicted individuals who make up the highest percentage of
inmates. Prevention or education is less expensive emotionally and
financially than prison. Spending thousands of dollars to keep
someone incarcerated is not the answer. The legislators laughed at
Sutton's proposal, but Saunders was right -- the joke is on us if we
continue to pay for close-minded legislators.

Rick Barney