August 26, 2002 8:05 pm - There are now over 6.6M Americans in prison, on parole, or on probation.  That's the most of any country at any time, save possibly the communist monstrosities of the last century.  If all of these people were violent criminals, I'd be the first to congratulate our judicial system.  Instead, an estimated 80 percent of them over the last ten years became part of this statistic for simple possession. Smoke a joint in the privacy of your own home?  Go to jail.  Do not pass go.  Of course, you can turn yourself into a zombie on prescription pills or get stumbling drunk without any punishment as long as you don't endanger others.  Heck, you can chug-a-lug paint thinner for all the authorities care, but whatever you do, don't inhale!  That is not permissible under any circumstances.  Our leaders will not be pleased. And if you're caught violating these arbitrary and inconsistent rules?  Our rulers will tax the crap out of everyone else to keep you behind bars, where ironically enough, illicit drugs are even more prevalent than on the streets.  You lose your job, your reputation, your family is impoverished, your kids go fatherless, and you become Bubba's girlfriend for the duration.  Does the punishment fit the crime? By the way, the largest contributor to Governor Davis's campaign this year?  The California Correctional Peace Officers Association.