I don't think most people are as close to being "them" as you think. We're not teetering on a society about to collapse into sending a meaningful amount of people into prison.
Are you aware of the fact that we (US) are _already_ a society that sends more people into prison, both per capita and in absolute numbers, than any other country on earth?
...ever, in history.
Looking at the statistics, it backs up my comment, that most people are not as close to being them as you said.