Texas Leads the US in Investing in Prisons Over Schools

There is a place for prisons in this world. There's no doubt about it. There's also a place for education, but apparently it's a lower priority.

There is a direct link to a lack of education and criminal behavior; it's not our best and brightest out there robbing and stealing. It's most certainly the folks who have little education, and thus, little hope. It would then be logical to assume that if worked at least at an equal pace with education and incarceration that we could improve everyone's chances at a decent life.

According to the Dallas Observer, a study from the U.S. Department of Education shows that Texas obviously sees this a bit differently and instead spends like a drunken sailor on prisons, while only granting modest increases to education. As a matter of fact, we were number one in a recent study due to our disparity of funding.

Now, let's get to the numbers. In about the last 30 years, spending on education when up about 182 percent, whereas spending on incarceration when up 850 percent. This gives us a point differential of 688 points, good for number on the list.

Our neighbor, New Mexico comes in at number two with a differential of 602 points. This disparity in spending does appear to be a national trend, but Texas is the worst offender.

I blame this on one thing: fear. People respond to fear better than they do to hope. It's sad, but I think we're seeing it come true in how our election process works as well. A little fear is a good thing; it keeps you safe. A lot of fear is a bad thing, as it keeps you from thinking straight.

I hope that at some point Texas will restore the balance. Let's spend money on the positive to avoid the negative, instead of just tripling up on the negative.

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