"We should pay lots of money to keep people who have committed minor crimes locked up in prison for a long time just so we can pretend we're making the world sa

"We should pay lots of money to keep people who have committed minor crimes locked up in prison for a long time just so we can pretend we're making the world safer." -> "But what about those who refuse to pay?" -> "We'll put them in prison". That's the further irony. You're already paying lots of money to keep too many people in prison. The poster back up the thread was simply suggesting a cheaper alternative that would save you money.