Currently there are over 2.5 million people incarcerated in the United States, more than any other country on earth. 60% of these inmates are being detained for non-violent drug offenses, and 85% of those are for Marijuana related offenses. Throughout history, during times of social change and upheaval, at times when the potential for growth and progress exists, there have always been those who seek to capitalize on the suffering of others. As a result of the war on drugs and the mass incarceration of minorities, inmate populations have soared and prisons have become highly overcrowded. The private prison attempts to provide an answer to this problem while at the same time claims greater cost efficiencies while providing better services than their government run counterparts. However, building more prisons is a measure to treat the symptom of a problem, not the cause. The cost benefits that advocates of private prisons proclaim are produced almost entirely from cuts to worker benefits, decreases to inmate health and rehabilitation services, and a much lower safety rating than those operated by our government. As a result, many more violent and sexual assaults occur at these facilities and all of this occurs at a greater cost to the taxpayer. Advocates of private prisons supposedly revere the free market and competition while just two corporations own and operate over 70% of the worldwide private prison complex and report annual earnings in the hundreds of millions. This oligopoly consists of the Corrections Corporation of America and The GEO Group (formerly Wackenhut). Inmates held in private facilities are put to work for meager wages without safety or health regulations while all the profits go to their captors and the shareholders. Our country proclaims to be a protector of freedom and provide liberty and justice for all, yet also permits multinational corporations to have a vested interest in the mass incarceration of entire people groups and profit from involuntary servitude. In some regards we have come a great distance in our nations history, in others we are still engaged in horrible human rights violations and crimes against humanity. I do not want to live in a country like this, and I do not want to raise a child in a country like this. I propose we change this system of tyranny and abolish slavery once and for all. I propose we stop private prisons and examine the laws that allow these injustices to happen. I propose we scrutinize politicians who push for harsher mandatory sentencing and “tough on crime” legislation while allowing private companies to profit from the fallout. It is my deepest hope that you join me in this cause and help pass legislation that ends the war on drugs and ends the criminal persecution of minorities in this country while rewarding the twisted individuals who stand to profit for the suffering of others. Thank you,