Never Let the Facts Stand in the Way of a Good Argument

In the face of historic deficits and looming and intractable problems in healthcare and pensions, the Harper government has once again done what it does best, pander to the basest instincts of an angry, and in this case ill-informed electorate. It has announced that it is increasing the budget for corrections by 27% or more than $3 billion at a time when not only are other pressures looming, but when violent crime is less and less of a problem.

Make no mistake: this sells. There is always a quick advantage on beating up on society's most despised. Yet everything that we know about criminal justice says this will only make things worse. If prisons and harsh, punitive justice made a society safe, the United States, Russia and China would be the safest places on earth.

But it sure does mobilize the base and draw in votes.

Looking back through recent Canadian history, I cannot think of a Prime Minister more cynical and calculating than this one.