THE TORY/LIBERAL CRIME AGENDA

Re: 'Tough on crime' stance needs scrutiny, Opinion Jan. 2

The Tories' crime policies have two functions:

1. Pander to their myopic, visceral, punishment-happy voter base. This
"tough" stance makes anyone who speaks sensibly about crime sound
"soft," which is why Liberals have gone along with it instead of
pointing out how insane it is.

2. Develop a U.S.-style for-profit prison system. Crime has been
dropping for 30 years, so they need to justify all of this ridiculous
spending on cops, courts and cages to the public. The best way to fill
up jails is to make more things illegal, or make things even more illegal.

My only consolation: If these Tory/Liberal coalition
gangster-subsidization bills unleash a violent and bloody Mexico-style
drug war in Canada, maybe we'll start voting with our heads instead of
our "gut."

Russell Barth, Educators for Sensible Drug Policy, Ottawa