Well, I have some idea of the cost incurred with policing american society. There's a figure that estimates 4% of the workforce is involved in the justice system. Now, comparing this to other societies (such as Canada or any european nation), it's a much less lower percentage. You can almost say that this expenditure is a social program that provides employment and generates the economy.
And it seems the public is becoming increasingly willing to turn over it's responsibilities of prisons and jails over to private corporations - e.g. wackenhut.
I must however disagree with the argument that the cost of maintaining an incarcerated individual for his or her lifetime is cheaper than giving this person the death penalty. Because of appeals and the backed-up legal system, the cost is about the same or even higher if some cases.
Yes there is a small underlying incarcerated population that can't be rehabilitated...one of the greatest criminological thinkers of all time said that a lifetime of misery is far greater punishment than giving the satisfaction of ending someone's life.
Just my two cents - not an attack on your beliefs
[This message has been edited by Lil_G (edited June 06, 2001).]