A Drowning Man...

Imagine, if you will, the following scenario involving a man drowning in a lake. He is a mere 50 yards off shore, flailing and gasping for breath…

A progressive comes upon this scene, throws 1,000 yards of rope, smiles beneficently, and departs. Later, a conservative arrives, sees the drowning man, and throws 25 yards of rope while exhorting the drowning man to swim. A libertarian strolls by, sees the drowning man, and acknowledges that he does, indeed, have a rope of the correct length. However, it is a rope he earned through his own hard work and diligence. Therefore, it would be unacceptable for everyone -- himself, the drowning man, and society -- if he shared his rope. Did the drowning man, by chance, have anything he could perhaps trade for the rope?

Throughout these visitations, a neoconservative has been observing thoughtfully from the beach. He pulls out his laptop and writes 500 well-chosen words detailing progressive waste, conservative folly, and libertarian heartlessness.

Meanwhile, the man in the lake is still flailing and gasping…

The story is an equal opportunity offender that singes without burning because it points out that each ideological perspective lacks a workable solution to the problems of crime, imprisonment, and recidivism. Much has been tried, yet little has been effective.