February 29th Leap Day

Dear Sis~
Here it is, Leap Day (oh boy, an extra day on death row!) and we're one day closer to the March 4th Democratic primaries in Texas and Ohio which, I believe, will mark the de facto end of Hillary Clinton's campaign to become the first female president, and the beginning of Barack Obama's fight to become the first black president. A lot can happen between now and November, but my money is on Obama over John McCain. McCain is a good and honorable man, but his time has come and gone; his time was eight years ago when Bush beat him out for the Republican nomination. The country in hungry for real, substantive change, away from the same-old-same-old, the status quo, and only Obama offers that. There will be a significant Democratic majority in both the senate and the house after the upcoming election, allowing Obama to push through the legislation necessary to bring about those changes. One thing this country needs to address is its addiction to incarcerating its citizens at the highest rate in the world. In today's USA Today is an article announcing that the "ratio of Americans behind bars tops 1 in 100." There are now 2.3 million American adults in jail or prison, "documenting the nation's rank as the world's No. 1 incarcerator." This is a trend that's been gaining speed for the last 30 years, with no end in sight. Americans (through their legislators) believe that prison time (and lots of it) is the answer to everything. It's like we have zero imagination (not to mention compassion or understanding) when it comes to addressing crime. Incarceration has become an incredibly huge and profitable business in America (the entire "criminal justice system" is big business in America, from the beginning (the police, lawyers, prosecutors, judges and jails) to the end (the construction and staffing of many, many prisons). We spent 49 Billion dollars on jails and prisons alone last year, which is serious money, and which creates a need to perpetuate itself. It's basic economics...
Alright, Sis, I'm going to hit the hay. Give the doggies a tummy rub for me!
Love, Bill