Wisdom, unexpected but welcome

Dear Ediitor:

In today's world, we hear, see, read the opinions of many persons as they offer what seems to them wisdom. The problem is their ideas are so varied it is difficult to sort through them to find a pearl of great value. Such a pearl was found in the Feb. 4, 2010 issue of the Nevada Daily Mail. That wisdom comes from Chief Justice William Ray Price of Missouri's Supreme Court. In case you missed reading his suggestions for a new crime fighting strategy, here are two paragraphs from the report..

"Price told a joint legislature session during his State of the Judiciary speech that Missouri officials have spent years to get tough on crime by putting more people in prison and that the state has spent billions of dollars while crime has not been reduced. He said that requires a new technique that uses special drug and drunken-driving courts and rehabilitation efforts to cut down on recidivism of nonviolent offenders."

The problem is that we are following a broken strategy of cramming inmates into prisons and not providing the type of drug treatment and job training that is necessary to break their cycle of crime." -- "Any normal business would have abandoned this failed practice years ago, and it is costing us our shirts."

The Internet is a vast source of information. Several years ago, $15,000.00 was accepted as the annual cost of keeping one person in prison. Given inflation, it was surprising to find several sources that place the current cost at $25,000.00 per year. Admittedly, some individuals must be kept away from the public. What would it cost to reduce the amount required for the prison population. A recent report stated that 35 persons had graduated from Vernon County's Drug Court. Judge James Bickel deserves much credit for establishing and supervising this effort

One person who successfully completes this plan becomes a tax-paying citizen and saves many thousands of dollars.

There are many reasons for an individual needing to be placed in prison. What would it save if we could spend the cost per prisoner on more programs that would make successful, responsible citizens contributing to society rather than making them inmates. There is no simple, "one size fits all" solution. Better parenting skills, more emphasis on what is important in our schools, early intervention with those exhibiting antisocial or personal problems could break some of the repetitive cycles found in our society. Training for productive jobs that would add to our economic base would multiply results.

There are many individuals and groups that seek to make a difference. I have learned to be careful about quoting what someone has said. Many have quoted John Kennedy as saying, "Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not." Again the Internet is a "handy" source. It credit's the quote to George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) No matter who said it, there is a great truth involved. It has been used many times to challenge us to begin working to solve a problem.

It is easy to blame others for the problems, sit back and complain and hide behind the idea the problem is too large for us. History is full of stories about those who dreamed solutions, began a small effort that changed the world. What would Nevada and Vernon County be like if each of us reached out to a group that is trying to meet a need and did what we could to help? It is my faith that we can make a difference. Don't listen to the complainers. Find a group, including churches, that has a vision of a better future and join in making their dream bear fruit.

More than that, contact people who write our laws and set policy. It is my own conviction that many of our tax dollars, with prison cost as an example, could be used more efficiently. Our welfare programs build in regulations that waste resources. Many of us have pet projects we would like to see increased. Reducing taxes across the board raises no question about the value received, or is concerned about efficient use of what we must pay.

There is much dissatisfaction among voters about the partisan approach to problems in our society. We cannot scrap our systems, but it might be a good time for a non-partisan citizens group using the best minds of our state, nation, and the world to seek a more effective use of our democratic (not in the political sense) principles for the greater good for all citizens. Justice Price has suggested a point to begin.

Lester Thornton

Vernon County