REVENGE COSTLY

To the Editor:

The depths to which the average misinformed or uninformed Alabama citizen
will stoop or fall for faulty thinking on issues political or social
continually amazes me.

For example, much-maligned Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore Jr.
appears to exhibit characteristics of "magical thinking" exemplified by his
promotion of "The Ten Commandments." It is a psychotic phenomenon that
causes the sufferer to believe that their actions have the ability to defy
the normal laws of cause and effect. His "Hanging Ten" has thus far not
been shown to save one soul, positively change or influence one life.

Local resident and war veteran Frank Powell has garnered much criticism
local and abroad by his often knee-jerk commentaries. His most recent on
the "law of diminishing returns" and gasoline exemplifies lack of
understanding when examined in the light of respected Wharton MBA graduate
and twice presidential economic advisor Paul Zane Pilzer's re-examination
of the long-held belief in "scarcity of resources." Consider that fuel
injection effectively replaced the carburetor, thereby changing/eliminating
entire industries and increasing productivity.

Those proponents of the death penalty appear to be ignorant of the
phenomenally exorbitant costs of one murder trial; the associated mandatory
legal reviews and appeals processes have been shown repeatedly that life in
prison without parole is more cost-effective, and inexpensive than
sentencing one to death.

Our Department of Justice's own statistics show that our state, federal and
local prison populations are filled to overflowing with non-violent
offenders, mostly drug related. Addiction exacts a costly toll on society,
but treatment options have fallen out of favor in lieu of punishment rather
than treatment. Again, it is more cost effective to society in every
respect to treat and rehabilitate than to imprison.

As any military strategist can attest, emotion, though it may temporarily
motivate, makes for poor long-term sustainment and is frequently reason for
downfall, defeat and failure.

How long can we Alabamians continue to ignore knowledge and rely upon feelings?

Revenge naturally feels good to the aggrieved and offended. But it is not
without cost.

Kevin L. Bardon, Elgin