Honestly, how can you expect a hardened criminal to be able to acclimate himself to back to freedom without a flat screen T.V., art to inspire him, a private shower, and $38,000 a year to care for his poor soul.
I mean honestly, "Together, America we can do better" (The DNC new slogan)
Soon they will want free drugs, prostitutes...
You said -- "Honestly, how can you expect a hardened criminal to be able to acclimate himself to back to freedom without a flat screen T.V., art to inspire him, a private shower, and $38,000 a year to care for his poor soul."
I know some parents that consider TV in the same way that prison guards do. They think TV is a great "baby-sitter". And it probably is, if you don't want to do too much with them (i.e., "hands-on").
But, really, they do say that having these things makes the prison population less likely to get into trouble and cause the guards trouble. I guess the guards are not wanting to continually put their lives at risk -- which they already do -- and figure "Let them watch TV all the time, instead..."
So, it's a way of keeping them quiet in prison and making the guards' lives easier (and less dangerous). So, it works on both sides of the fence.
Regards,
Star Traveler