Let’s do the math. At the lower figure Christopher cites of $189,000,000 divided by California’s 90,600 prisoners (you can look it up), that yields a cost of $2,086 per pad, versus a retail average (before any bulk discount) of about $150 per tablet.
This is how Democrats reward their allies. Pay for a service to be delivered at a markup that would make Cornelius Vanderbilt blush. Pocket most of the difference and return some to the politicians in the form of campaign contributions. Rinse and repeat. These are third world levels of graft and it goes on all the time. I’m sure the Republicans aren’t completely innocent of this either.
Exactly Sea Sentry. “This is how Democrats reward their allies. Pay for a service to be delivered at a markup that would make Cornelius Vanderbilt blush. Pocket most of the difference and return some to the politicians in the form of campaign contributions. Rinse and repeat.” We can be thankful that people like Chris Rufo, Nick Shirley and others with the help of DOGE concepts and AI is helping identify the fraud that the massive Democrat/Progressive Industrial Complex has created for so many years. And with no help from MSM. Sometimes I find it remarkable that Republicans can get elected with what they are up against.
Thank you for exposing yet another flagrantly aberrant Newsom policy. How can Americans, Californians accept such deviance on the part of Newsom and his state government. Luckily in America there is free speech to inform the public and eliminate such politicians.
I’ve long thought that simply locking criminals in cages is a poor way to prepare them for eventual release. What system would be better isn’t necessarily obvious, but it would likely need to focus on instilling discipline and self-control. Leave it to California—and Governor Hair Gel—to start with the low bar of improving on incarceration, and somehow end up with something worse.
Christopher Rufo’s entire formula is emotional panic masquerading as systems analysis.
A few inmates abusing prison tablets suddenly becomes proof that rehabilitation itself is decadent and dangerous. Meanwhile he skips the actual structural questions: recidivism rates, oversight failures, cost comparisons, or whether the program reduces violence long term.
That’s because “porn on death row” generates outrage clicks. “Institutional design tradeoffs” doesn’t.
The bigger situation is the funding behind these programs being little more than giving your friends contracts which have excessive prices as compared to the costs.
Is wasting taxpayer money to reward your supporters also OK with you?
Amazing how fast the argument changed from “rehabilitation is decadent liberal insanity” to “government contracts are corrupt.”
Glad we agree.
Now apply that same energy to the Pentagon losing trillions, private prison contracts, defense contractors charging taxpayers $10,000 for bolts, and pharmaceutical companies writing healthcare policy through lobbying.
Funny how “taxpayer waste” suddenly becomes urgent the second prisoners get tablets instead of Lockheed getting another missile contract.
No, the point is you entered the thread defending an article framed around “porn on death row,” then pivoted into a generic anti-corruption argument once the emotional framing got challenged.
That’s not “whataboutism.” It’s identifying selective outrage.
If your actual position is “all politically connected wasteful contracts are bad,” then congratulations, you accidentally agreed with my structural critique instead of Rufo’s moral panic framing.
When the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is talking about "reentry resources" for inmates on death row, they're not even trying to hide the game plan anymore.
Imagine actually opposing the death penalty for these scum.
Insanity.
Disgusting!
Let’s do the math. At the lower figure Christopher cites of $189,000,000 divided by California’s 90,600 prisoners (you can look it up), that yields a cost of $2,086 per pad, versus a retail average (before any bulk discount) of about $150 per tablet.
This is how Democrats reward their allies. Pay for a service to be delivered at a markup that would make Cornelius Vanderbilt blush. Pocket most of the difference and return some to the politicians in the form of campaign contributions. Rinse and repeat. These are third world levels of graft and it goes on all the time. I’m sure the Republicans aren’t completely innocent of this either.
Ah, but the language is so “moral “. Digital equity for justice impacted individuals. How cruel to question it!
You’re right. “Digital equity”… for convicted felons? George Orwell’s sequel writes itself.
Exactly Sea Sentry. “This is how Democrats reward their allies. Pay for a service to be delivered at a markup that would make Cornelius Vanderbilt blush. Pocket most of the difference and return some to the politicians in the form of campaign contributions. Rinse and repeat.” We can be thankful that people like Chris Rufo, Nick Shirley and others with the help of DOGE concepts and AI is helping identify the fraud that the massive Democrat/Progressive Industrial Complex has created for so many years. And with no help from MSM. Sometimes I find it remarkable that Republicans can get elected with what they are up against.
Your tax dollars at play...
Thank you for exposing yet another flagrantly aberrant Newsom policy. How can Americans, Californians accept such deviance on the part of Newsom and his state government. Luckily in America there is free speech to inform the public and eliminate such politicians.
Could it be that the democrats are going to start losing elections?
Or is this just wishful thinking? I guess time will tell.
Newsom is one EVIL SONOFABITCH! 🤬🤡😑
Or is it just the money
I hate this timeline. 🤦♂️
Newsom has got to be doing this on purpose.
I can only guess that it keeps them from fighting & docile ?
And he wants to be our president?
Terminate with extreme prejudice......
I’ve long thought that simply locking criminals in cages is a poor way to prepare them for eventual release. What system would be better isn’t necessarily obvious, but it would likely need to focus on instilling discipline and self-control. Leave it to California—and Governor Hair Gel—to start with the low bar of improving on incarceration, and somehow end up with something worse.
Christopher Rufo’s entire formula is emotional panic masquerading as systems analysis.
A few inmates abusing prison tablets suddenly becomes proof that rehabilitation itself is decadent and dangerous. Meanwhile he skips the actual structural questions: recidivism rates, oversight failures, cost comparisons, or whether the program reduces violence long term.
That’s because “porn on death row” generates outrage clicks. “Institutional design tradeoffs” doesn’t.
So your arguement is a little bad is OK?
The bigger situation is the funding behind these programs being little more than giving your friends contracts which have excessive prices as compared to the costs.
Is wasting taxpayer money to reward your supporters also OK with you?
Amazing how fast the argument changed from “rehabilitation is decadent liberal insanity” to “government contracts are corrupt.”
Glad we agree.
Now apply that same energy to the Pentagon losing trillions, private prison contracts, defense contractors charging taxpayers $10,000 for bolts, and pharmaceutical companies writing healthcare policy through lobbying.
Funny how “taxpayer waste” suddenly becomes urgent the second prisoners get tablets instead of Lockheed getting another missile contract.
So now it's OK for political patronage to one group but not the other?
Where did I say I liked ANY wasteful spending of taxpayer funds?
Whataboutism simply isn't an arguement.
No, the point is you entered the thread defending an article framed around “porn on death row,” then pivoted into a generic anti-corruption argument once the emotional framing got challenged.
That’s not “whataboutism.” It’s identifying selective outrage.
If your actual position is “all politically connected wasteful contracts are bad,” then congratulations, you accidentally agreed with my structural critique instead of Rufo’s moral panic framing.
When the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is talking about "reentry resources" for inmates on death row, they're not even trying to hide the game plan anymore.
🤦🏻♂️