I humbly accept all the kudos for the quote. I did, in fact write it myself. I feel honored at some of the speculation as to where it came from.

I didn't mean the quote literally, and I don't for a minute believe that it could or would happen overnight. For one thing, it takes a generation of loved and cared for children to become the adults who will be staying out of prison.

Yes, Bobert, a huge percentage of the crime is related to drugs being illegal and abusers getting prison instead of treatment. It is also related to untreated mental illness, which is big part of the drug problem, which in turn is related to children's being raised with abuse.

And yes, too, there will always be a percetage of the population that is truly mentally ill. Most mental illness is treatable; some of it is no threat to society; and all of it can be much more effectively dealt with. Imagine one small fraction of the military budget being put to research on mental health, which is a national security issue of a different sort than soldiers on the field, but no less of one. And imagine a society that is open to enacting policies that the research suggests!

The thought, which I have harbored for some time, is both sad and hopeful for me. Hopeful, because I truly believe that it is within human capability, if we only had the will. Sad because we don't seem to have the will. We are off in so many cockamamamie directions and silly distractions that I don't know if we can find our way to the path. But if I didn't have at least a shred of hope, I wouldn't even have posted it.