Let's pretend you're running for public office. What to run on? As any fool can see, having an opinion that's the least bit controversial can be truly damning; one side or the other will pillory you for standing up for your principles in the slightest. However, there are things that any politician can do in order to look appealing: lower taxes, be tough on crime, create jobs, etc.

So let's say I come to you. I offer you a chance to look "tough on crime" - we'll recognize the "scourge" that is crack cocaine and we'll institute some mandatory sentencing guidelines. And hey - how 'bout a "3 strikes law" because recidivism is the bane of the Western World? Maybe we can find some people to pick on that nobody will defend - how 'bout drunk drivers? And, oh, I dunno... pedophiles.

That's an easy sell. After all, the people who have been to jail likely can't vote any more as a consequence of, well, going to jail. They can fight to get their right to vote reinstated but it costs a lot of money and takes a long time and let's be honest - they wouldn't have been trying to hustle crack on the corner if they had a lot of options. Besides which, those nasty darkies tend to be the ones who vote white, business-friendly people out of office when they get half a chance so better this way.

But to make things even better, how 'bout I donate an assload of money to your campaign in return for tax incentives and other packages that make it economically lucrative to build a prison in your county? Or your tax district? Or your state? Etc? Now look at all the JOBS you're creating! Why, there's going to be at least 150 people needed night and day to keep 500 people in lockdown... and it'll be state money, not county money! Why, it's like daycare for adults! Everybody needs daycare!

And just like casinos, the actual money tends to get siphoned right the fuck out to wherever the corporation is based. Yeah, jobs are created but those jobs are often directly related to denying other people the right to work because they got arrested with a rock.

That's okay, because maybe we can use the prison labor to make stuff, or run a call center. And we don't exactly need to pay these guys much:

http://www.blackmarketarts.com/#!/reflections/orderly

I mean, shit - you can't get laborers in Mauritius for that kind of change.

So what you're left with is a system that feeds itself on the livelihoods of those who step the slightest bit out of line. We really and truly are creating a "serf" class in the United States - someone below lower class, well below middle class, and so far below the upper class that it's positively Dickensian.

And we've worked really, really, really hard to do it.