Why are US incarceration rates so high?

yes more to economic disparity, but technology makes much more money than oil ever could. We have MTV which emphasizes bling bling and your a loser if you don't have it which costs money. Also our education system is second rate, probably 30-40% of americans can't answer (X+2)2=? So if a large portion is border line illiterate and good jobs at the mill where you don't need an education doesn't exist anymore only tech. jobs what do you expect.