In the 3/29/2011 on-line edition of the Colorado Springs Gazette, Wayne Laugesen, editorial page editor, displays an incredible blind spot. The editorial in question involves the closure of the Fort Lyon Correctional Facility near Las Animas. Read the article: http://www.gazette.com/articles/right-115384-view-closing.html
Obviously, reasonable arguments can be made for, or against, closing prisons. What is amazing is the blind spot and hypocrisy on display by Wayne Laugesen. The exact same arguments he makes can be applied to the military installations in Colorado Springs. The following statement of Wayne's illustrates this.
“We will never do away with the need for prisons, but let’s be careful to never confuse a prison as something other than a cost. Prisons bring jobs and wealth to localities that host them, but the money is taken from other regions. This is necessary, but should not be confused as economic gain."
Another notable quote in the article is from State Representative Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs:
“The reality is that we just have too much government,” said Gardner, as quoted in the Bent County Democrat. “Sometimes the most efficient thing is to shut something down, even if people will be impacted in the short term. The role of prison is not one of an economic development tool for a community.”
The truth is, both correctional facilities and military installations are vital; but they are also an overhead cost on society, transferring capital from other uses. Pro-expansion forces see the expansion of the PCMS as economic insurance for Colorado Springs, or as an economic development tool.
