Reflections on Political Friendships and Alcatraz

Once upon a time, Republicans and Democrats shared a more amicable relationship. They would socialize, forming friendships even after intense debates about differing policies. The idea of viewing members of the opposing party as adversaries seemed far-fetched then.

Recently, I was reminded of this camaraderie when Attorney General Pam Bondy and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgham visited Alcatraz, proposing it as a new federal prison site. It made me think of my friendship with the late Tony Blankley, a standout figure in the Republican party. Blankley, who hailed from Britt, became an influential personality in American politics, serving various notable roles including as Deputy California Attorney General and a speechwriter for President Reagan.

Blankley had a passion for policy discussions. He once told me he was always brimming with at least ten new ideas—thoughts he often came up with while showering. But he was realistic, admitting that maybe only one or two of those ideas were actually viable. The rest, he would tell his boss, were simply not worth pursuing.

This kind of honest feedback is crucial in political roles. It’s unfortunate that there seems to be a lack of such candidness around Donald Trump. His approach appears more focused on loyalty rather than truth. When he says “jump,” it seems everyone just wants to know how high, without really challenging him.

Take, for instance, his plans for Alcatraz, seemingly inspired by a rerun of Clint Eastwood’s movie “Escape from Alcatraz.” The idea of reviving it as a high-security federal prison strikes me as one of his more perplexing proposals.

Instead of voicing concerns, Bondy and Burgham seem to have embraced the role of promoting this plan. But honestly, it feels like a waste of effort. Alcatraz has been closed as a federal prison since 1963, which is quite a long time ago. The island is in disrepair, with saltwater erosion causing significant structural issues. There’s no running water or sewage system, so everything needs to be shipped in and out, making it not just impractical but financially daunting as well.

A report from 1959 highlighted that operating Alcatraz was three times more expensive than running an average American prison. When attempts were made to refurbish it, they ultimately failed, leading to its abandonment.

I recently visited Alcatraz, and it’s even worse than I imagined. Experts now agree that restoring the existing structures is unfeasible. The only plausible solution would be to demolish everything and start anew. The estimated cost for such a project? A staggering $2 billion, according to administrative sources. And the logistical challenges of bringing in supplies would persist.

No matter how eager Trump might be for this plan, it’s hard to justify spending such an enormous sum on a facility that isn’t necessary. Since 1963, 84 federal prisons have been built, and currently, there’s ample capacity due to a sharp decline in the prison population. Recent statistics indicate that the number dropped to 1.2 million in 2023 and is projected to decrease further.

It seems everyone is aware of these facts except for Trump. Surely, someone in his circle, like Bondy or Burgham, could step up and share this crucial information with him.

And while they’re at it, perhaps they could temper his more outlandish ideas, like purchasing Greenland or other peculiar suggestions.