> Saying that in the country with world-leading mass incarceration mostly due to its decades long “war on drugs” which has very much not cured drug problems is a perfect example of putting ideological preconceptions ahead of reality.

I wish I could emphasize this even more.

There are some situations where certain types of punishments in certain situations will achieve societal behavior change.

There's a lot more where it doesn't and people absolutely to apply any kind of scientific thought to it.

> There are some situations where certain types of punishments in certain situations will achieve societal behavior change.

> There's a lot more where it doesn't

Or, at least, not the behavior change you are hoping for.

Hmm, that last sentence is really missing a "refuse to"