KEEP FOCUSING ON THE SHENANIGANS

Re: No money for colleges, but plenty for prisons.

As I understand the latest smoke (with mirrors) from Tallahassee, we
have 4,000 new prison beds in the latest money pipeline (the budget
Gov. Jeb Bush signed in June), and too little new money for higher
education. Plus, those programs found to be effective in reducing more
prisoners, primarily education and alternative remedial programs for
nonviolent offenders, mental health and the like, have had their
funding cut or stayed at present, ineffectual levels.

Then our "politically savvy" corrections secretary waves his magic
"say yes or face pre-election mailings saying you are soft on crime"
farce before those stalwart worthies in the Legislature and gets
handed a no-bid $66-million blank check to build 4,000 more prison
beds.

Is this true at a time when crime is at a 30-year low and colleges are
considering closing their doors to new students for a lack of funds?
Is this true in a state where privatization of governmental functions
(including those before-mentioned prisons) is at an all-time high?
Could there be a connection?

Corrections Secretary Jim Crosby says that bidding slows everything
down. This may need to be examined more closely. Slowing things down
helps us avoid costly mistakes, does it not? Not to mention revealing
conniving and mendacity at the upper reaches of government. This rush
to fill the pockets of the prison builders and keepers at the expense
of prevention and education fairly reeks of both.

Keep the light shining on the shenanigans, you members of the fourth
estate. We, the people, rely upon you to keep us safe from (or, at
least, aware of) of governmental boondoggles that damage the body politic.