prisoners copulate or perish in us prison, page-3

It also highlights a deeper malaise in this (and that) society, Chuck.
These are societies whose focus is sharper upon punishment than good education, pursuit of selfish ends rather than general societal happiness, material goods rather than psychological hygiene, intellectual exercise, cultural expression, open democracy, love for children, etc, etc.
The huge prison systems, the huge number of executions highlight only a failure for the society. The bigger these two numbers, the bigger the failure.
Like Laura said of Bush and Cheney in her little foray into the theatrical world, Bush's and Cheney's view of anything that bothers them in their ranch is, "chop it down!"
Where does a philosophy like that could possibly lead?