We need 40 lashes instead of 2 years in prison. We need a harsher system that accurately punishes crime.
[0] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/98...
Harsh punishments do work, when you apply them consistently and early on. While you may think that being caned is harsh, most people I've talked to would prefer to be caned over a month in prison.
Singapore's use of the death penalty is a fairly good example. Kidnapping is a capitol offense -- consequently you see young kids walking around the Singapore alone and taking buses on their own.
The consensus among criminologists is that capital punishment isn't a deterrent.[0] That's why capital punishment advocates rely on emotional arguments around punitive and revenge. And a counter anecdote, you can see children playing and navigating cities alone in The Netherlands and across Europe, and none of those countries have capital punishment.
Furthermore, crime is actually at historic lows.[1] In fact, it's categorically safer now, than it was when you were a kid, or when your parents were kids. Thirdly, kidnappings occur primarily by estranged parents, and is also lower now than ever.[2] Pedobear in the van with "FREE KANDEE!" scrawled on the side in crayon is exceptionally rare. If your kid wants to ride the bus alone, you totally should let them. It's a fun, safe, adventure. In fact, kids do it the United States every day.[3]
[-2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_in_Singapore#Medical_tr...
[-1] http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3c9_1304013159
[0] http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/study-88-criminologists-do-n...
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_the_United_States
[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-mis...
[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2015/05/26/...
What matters is repaying the "debt" to society. Hard to do when a year in prison can cost more to the taxpayer than a year at Harvard.
Probably most out-of-touch statement of the year.
Masochists all over the world support your cause.