McBlogger: low-calorie but still full-flavor: What David Dewhurst wants to do RIGHT THIS MINUTE

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January 28, 2007

What David Dewhurst wants to do RIGHT THIS MINUTE

"We haven't built any new prison beds in Texas for a number of years, and our population is exploding," Dewhurst said.
"I don't -- and the people of Texas don't -- want to have dangerous people on our streets, and that's what we're going to prevent. I've been looking at a number of 4,000 to 5,000" over the next four years, he said.

That projection is in line with the budget request by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which wants to add three prisons to hold 5,000 prisoners. That would cost $440 million just for construction, a state expense opposed by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which advocates limited government.

Two quick points, then I gotta roll...

1) This is in direct conflict with common sense to some extent because the Texas CJ system is FUCKED up. We imprison too many people for too many bullshit offenses. We need to streamline the Criminal code and take out a lot of stupid crap, along with encouraging judges to give probation to non-violent offenders. Grits for Breakfast also has some good points up on why we have enough beds now, even with the increase in population.

2) Dewhurst acknowledges that we've had population growth and so need more prison beds. Technically, he's right if you don't think #1 is a good idea. That being said, and this is in the vein of all roads leading to infrastructure (I'm nothing if not monomaniacal), we have had a massive increase in population. So why is it so hard for Republicans to understand that we need a commensurate increase in taxes to handle the buildout of infrastructure (schools, roads, hospitals) to help service the expanded population?

At what point do these fucking stupid assholes finally realize that you can not service a population of 23 million people with a tax system that produces effectively for only 18 million?

(via Off the Kuff)

Posted by mcblogger at January 28, 2007 03:37 PM