Wow, what a strong raw article.
We closed 19(!) prisons in recent years. Because of our (the Netherlands) very different approach to crime. I heard from a Dutch cop, American tourists fear cops and don't dare to even come and ask for directions (a normal thing here).
We don't have corporate prisons, our justice system is not required to fill them up for money, and we, as per your suggestions have free education, healthcare for everyone, great prevention programs, much more money for social work. My country is always in the top 10 of happiest countries. Why? Because we don't fear socialism! We are NOT socialist, but pragmatic. We adapt to what works. But the US so much fear paying taxes and big government they have no clue what cost that brings. The size of a government doesn't matter, its intentions do! And our taxes pay for all these very desirable things. Because our state buys collectively education and health care for us with our taxes.
So well used taxes buy what you want anyway, and the state can pressure way way better deals, then you as an individual.
The fear of socialism makes people vote against their own interests. We are a social democracy, running on a market economy. Yet many Americans are so triggered by their anxiety and paranoia over communism, it's pathetic, or deeply indoctrinated. The Netherlands considers Bernie Sanders still to the right of our liberal party.
So, dear USA, listen to your progressives, they're not even close to 'socialism' (even when they use the word. And the Netherlands isn't socialist either. So before you fear communism, consider how much free space there is between where you are, where we are before you are even getting close to Cuba. The daily propaganda from FOX and the promises of lower taxes are lies. You need money out of politics, because your rich can buy everything and ain't stopping. And they profit from the current prison system, the current cop system. It's not immigrants that steal jobs, it's your slave like prisons and the cops willing to fill them up with people who can't protect themselves for petty crimes.
The USA is about 4,3% of the Global Population. It has 22% of the global prison population. Your policing and justice system indeed do make matters worse. And if you want real change don't believe your politicians, look what countries got, who are highest on the lists of happiness, freedom, least corruption, least drug problems, best democracy and start learning.
