Social Disease

Today, Michigan faces a crisis – both social and financial in nature – caused by the worst that society has to offer. With unemployment rates constantly rising, not considering those capable people who have given up hope of finding a job, we are faced with an astronomical increase in crime of all varieties.

The State is burdened with the cost of providing food, shelter, and most expensively, medical care for the prisoners committing these crimes.

Michigan’s prison population has skyrocketed since the enactment of its “Get Tough” crime laws. Our prisons currently house a population of 50,200 inmates, and experts are predicting an estimated growth to reach the 56,000 mark within five years.

It is reported that the State spends about $2 million a day, or $2 billion each year. The cost of feeding, housing and providing medical care is approximately $32,000 annually per prisoner. As an inmate, you can expect to receive better medical, dental and optical care than over a third of the general population. It is, without doubt, the surest way to obtain top notch health care.

We are spending 20 percent of the State’s general fund to pay for the services provided to these criminals and the law enforcement charged with maintaining the prisons and parole cases.

It certainly should come as no surprise when you watch a dead eyed defendant appear in a courtroom. They obviously are not worried about being homeless, or in even owing debt to pay for any essential medical treatments needed during their prison sentence.

Currently, Michigan has the 11th highest incarceration rate in the United States, higher than Mexico, Canada and South America.

Law abiding taxpayers should be outraged by these figures. After all, it’s our taxes paying for the disease that will undoubtedly get much worst before it gets any better. America – the land of opportunity – rears its head in some very ugly ways.

(Facts courtesy of Detroit News)

Pressure On The Rise