Years of holler living changed the way I look at things. Or maybe it’s getting older. I don’t know, they say there’s no fool like an old fool. It’s just that whenever I hear “Everybody knows....” statements, I tend to be highly skeptical about whatever the current fad in perception may be. Therefore I was very surprised to hear our own Governor stating on Vermont Public Radio that “Everybody knows…”

The basic issue here is incarceration versus therapy and probation. With this in mind, I talked to a person who works in probation and rehabilitation here in Vermont. Here is an excerpt of our discussion: “In the long run, therapy is cheaper, and has a better chance of changing the individual, than incarcerating him with a bunch of people who are just like him. These are people who are in trouble and do not have the self knowledge to get out of the situation themselves, so they need help, and therapy is helping. Jail is just a time out, for whatever length of time. A time out has a much lower percentage of success in promoting change in that type of behavior. Granted jail has its effect, but it is a lot like taking an alcoholic for a time out. He is fine for while, but as soon as he is exposed he will offend again. He has not learned how not to drink.” My friend continues, “Every person who goes to jail takes money out of your pocket. If he is in the community he is working and contributing. Most of them have families they can at least interact with. In jail they have none of that. There’s very limited programs while you’re in jail. You, (the taxpayer) are paying more, but you’re getting very little for it.”

What’s it going to be? Lock up our testosterone overloaded young men til they chill down? Incarcerate victimless crime “criminals”? Or, do we teach them how to be adults through education, rehabilitation and probation? It’s your tax dollar at work either way. One way is expensive and yields dubious results. The other sounds like a bunch of bleeding heart Liberalism to me. What if it was your son or daughter? You decide.

These essays were written for entertainment purposes only. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Vermont Soap, its employees, board of directors, our Web host, Web designer, the neighbors who live up the road; or any of the thousands of people who use our stuff. Originally published in edited form by Comic News. Many thanks to Seasoned Books, without which, life in the Holler may never have become a reality.