I disagree, except that sometimes I am an ass, and I was on a rant. But, this is a systemic problem, not an isolated local issue.

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Probably ought to know what you're talking about before you rant. I live in Luzerne county. The county commissioners who decide this stuff are all Dems. The public at large does NOT get to vote on these choices. it is county business..the commissioners decide.
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Why was the prison system privatized? It wasn't the local politicians who set this up. The culture of corruption was set up by the people's lack of concern for those who need Government services. Mean spirited voters. Cheap voters who want tax cuts over a decent society, in other words, Republicans. Republican at the federal and state level who cut budgets so drastically, and had such little regard for these children, that your county or state let out a contract to these folks. It takes two to tango, these contractors played ball with these judges.

This is symbolic of the mess Republicans have made of the quick take-out version of Government services set up in the last several years. Everywhere, parks and forests, military, schools if they could, prisons, it goes on and on. Government is broken, and this is the type of thing that happens.

Yes, that county should pay the price, really, the whole state should. And the whole country will. This is the Republican legacy.

I remember a time when we had a responsive Government, when mentally ill were put in hospitals and helped instead of warehoused in prisons. When Government employees took care of public lands and you could hike and camp and visit for free or a reasonable price, in a clean, safe environment. When soldiers fought wars and supported the infantry. When the Government ran prisons, and followed the Constitution, and had an interest in rehabilitation, not profit. When the Government used to inspect consumer items like food. When the EPA functioned.

You can't clean up Government, when the Government is taken over by for-profit corporations. It is a recipe for corruption.

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The decision makers are all Dems. Sorry idiot. Next time, be informed BEFORE you announce to all of us that you're an ass!

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I wish this problem was confined to your county, but the locals didn't make any decisions, at least not any that were not forced by budget cuts. This is systemic. Look past Wilkes-Barre, the corruption is rampant. Jesus, look at all the money we pissed away in Iraq, and what to show for it?

So, if you are following this, let us know when the corporate suits who were taking the money get indicted, will you? Thanks.

-Chuck, Vegetarian fanboy