Our Jails are too Full

What I might say has been said many times.  Every month or so I read or watch some reportage about our huge prison population.  How can we feel good about our country when so many humans are locked up?
We lock up a far higher fraction of our population than any other country!  How can this be?  Is the typical American a cruel, sadistic bastard?  I don't think that's the case, but there is something very wrong that needs to be changed.  The latest article that I have read is entitled The Caging of America, by Adam Gropnik.  It's in The New Yorker, and you can read it here:
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/01/30/120130crat_atlarge_gopnik#ixzz1n8vbMjpF

That's a better article than anything I can write.  This situation won't change until enough people badger their elected representative to change it.  Of course, those who are cruel sadistic bastards will be content with things as they are.