In 2010 the US spent more on it's prisons than the rest of the world combined.
It had a higher percentage of its citizens imprisoned that South Africa under Apartheid or the USSR communist system.
From a non-US, global perspective the most frightening aspect is that the US quickly develops economic 'complexes'.
Military Industrial, Narco Prohibition and Imprisonment....
Many towns in US are economically dependent on the local prison.
Stop locking people up for victimless crimes and the economic consequences mean voter disapproval.
Sad but true.
the institutionalization of programs and policies is a direct result of the bureaucratic machinery.
the US is rapidly becomeing a mandarin state, eith each little perfumed prince visciously defending his turf against reduction or elimination, while the eocono-frootloops continue to engage in "Baseline Budgeting" where every line item on last year's budget simply continues, no matter how wacky or failed it may be, with a 3-10% increase over last years funding.
this has been constructed based on the foolish assumptions of Keynesian economics, "Aggregate Demand", and the desire of the bankers and bureaucrats to keep every dollar in circulation constantly circulating.
this is why they NEED inflation, NEED massive government spending, and NEED rampant taxation.
if the people were to stop buying on credit, start saving up for what they need and want, and pay off their debts, their economic schemes would fall apart like Michael J Fox's Jenga Tower.
it all goes back to the creation of the federal reserve system, and placing control of the economy in the hands of a star chamber of hooded sinister schemers.
if you want to control a country, you have to make sure that all economic activity goes through your hands, or the hands of your servants, otherwise people might do something silly with their money, like buy land, or pay for their kid's education, or NOT buy a new iPhone every year.
they have created a nation of complacent dolts who allow advertising and celebrity halfwits to determine how they use their economic power, rather than logic, reason and self-sufficiency.
if you agree to become a cog in the machine, they got a spot ready for you, if you prefer to do your own thing, well... thats CRAZY, you must be a "Right Wing Loon"!