Punishment

We are 50-plus-year-olds, white, college-educated, politically straddling the fence and not loyal to either side. We agree with the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Jan. 9 commentary, “The Crime of Punishment Taints All of America.” His characterization of the jail as a young person’s university is so true, and it is a public shame for our society. We put a young person in jail to be preyed upon by other tough, violent criminals and when he is eventually released, we do have a different person out in society.

Jackson’s reasoned opinion states so well all the things we see wrong with the system. We just wish we knew how to have some influence to start to change it.

LINDA DOBSON

FRED KIDD

Seal Beach