Humans display a reduced set of consistent behavioral phenotypes in dyadic games https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.1600451

~30% of people are wired to feel others' suffering constitutes a 'win', even at cost to the themselves as long as they're suffering less than their counterparty. Add in selection effects and it's pretty clear such people could coentrate in particular industries.

Just because something happens doesn't mean that its intentional. I think this is really a byproduct of having no one that stands up for the injustice. Who is the voice for people in prison? No one wants to take credit for family members that are there and the ones that get out usually struggle to get back on their feet let alone drive change in the system.

I think another good example of this is through public infrastructure. Look at any poor neighborhood in a city and look how little public infrastructure is invested in those areas. Usually big busy roads with no sidewalks, crosswalks, etc. The city doesn't hate those areas, it's just that the people that live in those areas aren't effective (or unable) to lobby elected officials to invest. Also there is a little bit of a self fulfilling prophecy with lack of investment causing less businesses to want to invest, etc.

This is an excuse for Christians behaving like animals by racing to the bottom, you consistently overstate how evil people are for reasons beyond me.

> Take away the shame that normally keeps it in check and people's bloodlust rises to the surface

Let me guess, the anti-christ is right around the corner, Peter.

> It is a rare person who chooses to deny themselves pleasure on moral grounds

No, it isn't. This person is average among us, they are rare among the elites and politicians. You don't need to paint others poorly because of your own self-image nor is it productive to do so

>People are cruel to prisoners because they enjoy being cruel to prisoners

I don't enjoy being cruel to convicted criminals. I would much prefer they not commit crime, and that there be no need for the punishment.

>especially given that free will is inconceivable;

I too, have no free will in the matter. I am just a clockwork mechanism, operating as the random universe has not only ordained, but I cannot operate otherwise. Coincidentally, the nature of my mechanism makes me immune to your arguments, and no change in behavior is forthcoming. Fun, huh?

>mass incarceration and poor prison conditions seem to increase crime

Statistics say otherwise. Crime is down across the board the last few decades.

>If we are to have prisons, let's be honest about why they exist: people like them.

I agree. I like criminals being locked away from the rest of us.