Because it's a SECURITY RISK...
E-Mail    by Michael Tenneson  Bio/Address

... is what the bureaucrats tell me every time I (or any other intelligent being) asks them any pressing questions as to why the typical prisoner is not allowed any meaningful rehabilitation programs to focus their energy on while doing their time. Though the average citizen believes that the average prisoner is living in country-club accommodations, the fact is that most prisoners sit in concrete boxes smaller than the average free-world persons bathroom, and have nothing to do all day but stare at the idiot box (TV)). The bureaucrats would have you, the buying (paying-through-the-ass!) public.... believe that they have stripped down our so-called "amenities to meet some esoteric "security" code; that is, to protect us inmates from ourselves, and each other... Bull Shit.
    I am sorry for not writing for the last two months... Frankly, I have been going through some major changes physically, mentally, and of course emotionally: I have quit smoking cigarettes, cold turkey. Those of you who have been slaves to the nicotinic substance that so taunts any who brave the new world of ex-smokerisms can sympathize with the "changes" I have alluded to. I cannot claim any great act of will power, or deep personal insights though that have allowed me to quit on my own terms - the fact is that the State of Colorado Legislature decreed that as of March 1, 1999 there will be no more tobacco products allowed in Colorado prisons.
    Well, it is now April 1, 1999. I have not had a smoke for thirty days. I can finally say that I feel great.
    The commissary has not sold any tobacco products since the first week of December, 1998. I expected that this place was going to explode... For the last three months I have sat here watching black-market supply and demand sky-rocket the price of a five dollar can of tobacco to as high as four hundred dollars, and cigarettes have gone for as much as five dollars apiece. What is most amazing is that not a single person was killed, or seriously assaulted at this prison over tobacco. About forty percent of the population here were heavy smokers. I have smoked for 25 years, and had no intention of quitting. It has been a very tense couple of months... I will admit to having surrendered my will briefly to partake in a couple five dollar treats ... and have also noticed a profound phenomena as a result: The more expensive a cigarette becomes, the better it tastes! Now I understand why a bottle of Ripple is so nasty tasting, and why a bottle of Dom Perignon is better - it's all in the price!
    What is interesting to me is the fact that the Colorado DOC put out numerous public blurbs mentioning the fact that, "Colorado prisoners will soon be forced to quit smoking, and that numerous measures were being taken to make the process of quitting as I comfortable' as possible..." (They claimed we would be given smoke cessation classes and nicotine patches, etc.), but in reality all they did was stand back holding their breath while thousands of prisoners statewide were forced to quit cold-turkey. I am paid $.60 a day, and most of the guys here make far less than two dollars a day - how many of us do you think can afford to buy a forty-two dollar box of Nicotrol nicotine patches? We are not allowed gum, or extra fruit, or any of the it crutches" free-world people would use as they struggled with the demons of nicotine addiction. Yet, we... did it ... without any major incidents jumping off!
    Perhaps you are wondering what the hell this has to do with anything? Which, is a good question! Glad you asked! The point of this little story is that we have just shown, again, that we are not the "animals" that society is misled to believe that we are. And, I believe that the low-level politicians that run these kinds of places should quit making lame excuses as to why they "can't" provide decent rehabilitation programs and start finding ways that they can. Most of these public servants would merely need a testosterone shot to provide them with the proper fortitude to be able to implement such a progressive program of common sense!
    Oh! I'm sorry! When I mentioned "common-sense" proposals, I was referring to well thought out ideas that have been proposed to the Colorado DOC over the last ten years by myself and others that I personally know about. For an example, take a look at the Together We Can Stop the Madness proposal, that I submitted last year to the Colo. DOC, as well as select members of congress, the Senate, and Legislature, etc. What really blows me away is the fact the not a single recipient of that presentation even had the common courtesy to reply (didn't expect them to "dignify" the efforts of a lowly dreg of humanity, but still... )
    Politicians bitch incessantly about how prisoners just don't seem to respond to the "corrections" regimen ... i.e. we are not rehabilitated upon leaving prison! Well what do you expect? When you give us flour and water, and tell us to go now and prepare a decent supper ... Hey! I hope you like tortillas! If you want more ... you need to put more ingredients in the pantry. Any of you in society who don't like what America's prisoners have become have nothing to complain about - you get what you pay for. The current state of chaotic dysfunction will prevail until someone has the guts, and wisdom to take this political bull ... by the horns and turn it around.

As for me? If only I had a pack of Camels....

Michael Tenneson, April 1, 1999

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