Gov. Bush was quick to attribute the decline to his administration's tougher penalties for violent criminals. Clearly, however, the good economy and other factors contributed. And the drop in violent crime was 9.7 percent, less than the overall decline. But give Gov. Bush the bragging rights. And hope he learns something from last week's lessons.
Big government cuts teen smoking.
That shows intervention can prevent problems. Big government also cuts crime, but that's money to clean up problems rather than prevent problems. Imagine what sustained investment could do if Gov. Bush decided to make Florida's public schools a bigger priority than Florida's prisons. Jac Wilder VerSteeg is deputy editorial page editor of The Palm Beach Post. All rights reserved.