Kind Madam/Sir:

It's a sad commentary on our value system when a worthy cause like a new
and expanded Olympia Public Library capable of addressing our growing needs
is voted down, while funding for the building of new prisons seems to be
acceptable to voters.

This is particularly galling when one realizes that so much of the new
prison space is needed to warehouse nonviolent drug offenders who could
otherwise be productive tax payers.

It costs seven times as much to warehouse a prisoner as it does to
provide drug treatment/rehabilitation. The latter option offers some hope
of a successful outcome whereas the former only assures successful schooling
in criminal behavior.

At what point will we taxpayers reshuffle our priorities in favor of
libraries, school bonds, and treating drugs as a public health rather than a
criminal justice problem? How many more nonviolent offenders must be
exposed to prison crime education before we can have an open, honest
national or local dialog on alternatives to our failed drug war? Will rising
tax rates finally force us to examine the issue and viable alternatives?

And when will we vote funds for the new library we need?

Very sincerely,

David L. Edwards, M.D.
2715 Schirm Loop, N.W.
Olympia, Washington, 98502
(360) 8667165