Dear Editor:
Re: Smiling politicians – the prison “a great investment.”
The word “investment” implies the expectation of profit in the future.
The numbers more or less:
To build the prison – $220 million.
Permanent jobs – 300 at $50,000 per year – $15 million.
Prison population incarceration costs – $200,000 per prisoner times 740 – $14.8 million.
Total $249 million.
The taxpayer will now spend $249 million on 740 misguided souls who might have changed direction long ago had resources existed.
Now to spend hundreds of millions for what? To make them more misguided, but schooled in crime?
In the Netherlands, they are closing prisons for lack of inmates, the result of a highly educated society.
Unfortunately this government fears a highly educated public as they had to go from Point Grey to Kelowna to buy a seat for the premier.
Cut education to build prisons – it seems to be working because they keep getting re-elected.
Hans Schmidt
Osoyoos, B.C.
