QUOTE : Mary slips her handbag onto her shoulder and she straightens her suit jacket as<br />I digest this, and then she adds very quietly, “If you ask me, if the state really<br />wanted to help women like your sister, wouldn’t they put the thousands of<br />dollars they’ll spend on her trial and incarcerating her into early intervention<br />programs, or research into addiction? Or Lord, if it’s really all about the baby—<br />wouldn’t you funnel the funds into setting up a better foster care system or<br />maybe some parenting classes that actually help?”<br />“So why don’t they?” I ask, and Mary sighs and shakes her head.<br />“Well, it’s a little bit like this. Half the town is on fire, and the townspeople<br />are all so busy hollering for the fire brigade that no one thinks to find out why<br />people are still playing with matches.