3 ms·

I think, in general, we spend too much time allocating resources to punishing people (for it is punishment - the prison system does not reform) rather than reso

I think, in general, we spend too much time allocating resources to punishing people (for it is punishment - the prison system does not reform) rather than resolving the actual issues that lead them to behave the way that they do. Obviously, we need a balance between enforcement and abatement - I'm not saying we should stop enforcing laws - but I think the balance is way off. One of the things that I don't see discussed very often is how most criminals, aside from those who have mental illnesses that compel them to action, act rationally in the moment when they commit a crime while that logic is foreign to someone not in their situation.

highfrequency 3y ago
I see. What do you think are low-hanging fruit projects to help resolve the underlying issues? I am generally aware of education initiatives, unemployment insurance, needle exchange programs etc. but the effectiveness does not seem great. But I think you have better understanding here - what should we be doing better that you think would actually work well? I don’t think our prison system is very cost effective, but it does a reasonable job of creating strong negative incentives for a wide range of crimes in the general population.