The Legislature Is Out Of Control, Of The People.

Al Mansell used to be a Legislator. He's always been a Realtor. Past President of a national realtor's group. He's the lobbyist leading the fight to move the State Prison from Draper. Even though an audit by the State shows that we, the taxpayers, could lose as much as $378 MILLION DOLLARS if we do this, Al Mansell could develop that land, and make a fortune for himself.

Anyone who reads this knows I used to work for the Department of Corruption, er, Corrections. So I have a little insight into this matter. And history will show that the current prison was built in the 1950's when the one that occupied the area that is now, Sugarhouse Park was too old, and decrepit to keep open. In the 50's, the State decided it would make a good place for a park. In this decade? It should be a monetary boon to a Republican, former Legislator who is a realtor. He's actually got the balls to insist that the State not open the land up for bid, that it just, basically, give it to him!

OK, I'm sure there are people in Draper who are not happy that the prison is in their back yard. Too, fucking, bad. You moved in next to a prison. It did NOT move in next to you! And if you think about it, anyone who escapes from it, does their best to get as far away from it as soon as possible. They don't stick around. And the truth be known? After the 80's, I don't think their has BEEN a successful escape from the prison. It's pretty secure these days.

Now, I'm going to tell you all the reasons it's in the right place, right now, and, Al Mansell should go piss up a rope and suck on the wet end, because he's trying to rip us taxpayers off and feather his own bed. And he's an asshole for even suggesting this.

First of all, most of the population of the state lives along the Wasatch Front. Between Ogden and Provo. And the current prison location is Damn near in the MIDDLE of that. Why is that important?

Well, for one thing, if you're in prison, having your family be able to visit, and keep in touch is important to your rehabilitation. Family support is very important to inmates who will get out, and almost ALL of them, eventually get out, if they are going to make it on parole.

When I retired from Corruption, er, Corrections five years ago, almost 80% of the people on probation and parole lived in SALT LAKE COUNTY! That is where they were getting treatment for their addictions, training to help them get jobs, where the job opportunity's are, and where their family is. If you give a damn about these people hopefully changing their lives for the better, and I did as a PO, that was my job, why would you move them to someplace where they couldn't get ANY of that?

So Al Mansell could turn the prison property into, "The Hot Springs Condos"?

When I started at Corrections in 1988 you know what one of the real money makers of Utah Correctional Industries was? Tropical fish. Yeah, I know, you had no idea. But the geothermal springs on prison property made it a great industry to be in. I don't know if they are still in that business, but they should be.

This Legislature is out if it's mind, and not, by any stretch in control of the people who elected them. They are ALL about guys like, Al Mansell being given everything they want. Taxpayers could lose $378 MILLION dollars moving the prison, so Al Mansell could make a few bucks, while we can't afford to fund our schools. WTF?

I don't know if feral animals are a big problem, since I don't live on a farm, but even so, do we want THAT to be our national image? Is trying to take Tenure away from college professors because some nut ball from Provo couldn't attain it when HE was teaching, really a good idea? Do you really want anyone to be able to carry a gun, out in the open, even if they don't have any training on how and when you should use one under Utah law?

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the whole state is full of the kind of nut balls who would vote for, Chris Buttars and, Carl Wimmer, and they live in, "Glennbeckistan" which is, South Jordan, Herriman and Utah County. But I hope not. I hope these people are not just waiting for the feral animal bill to pass so they can take their AR15 with the extra magazines to the local dog park and get in some shots at moving targets.

I have a feeling, and it's not a good one, that I'm right. Guess I should keep packing my concealed gun. If I believed in God, I'd ask him to help us. But that's a sucker bet every time.