The article discusses the high poverty and crime rates in Modesto, California, attributing these issues to government mismanagement and possibly corruption. It criticizes the decision by city and county officials to build a new prison despite existing facilities being under capacity, suggesting that this move neglects the root causes of crime, such as poverty, and instead focuses on punitive measures. The article also highlights the low voter turnout in local elections, suggesting that the lack of civic engagement contributes to the ongoing mismanagement. The author believes that without a grassroots movement to increase community involvement in politics, Modesto will continue to struggle with these issues.

The article discusses the disproportionate incarceration rates of African Americans in Stanislaus County, highlighting systemic racism as the underlying cause. The African American population in the county is 2%, yet they make up 14% of the jail population. The author points to a lack of public data and difficulty in obtaining records, having filed a FOIA request for access to court rulings. Two cases are cited as anecdotal evidence of systemic injustice and corruption: the conviction of Sheriff’s Deputy Jose Pacheco for theft, and a civil suit by Alvis Rhodes against the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors alleging racial discrimination and assault by deputies. The author emphasizes the need for transparency and racial equality, dismissing any excuses for the racial disparities as unacceptable, and insists on the objectivity of data in revealing the truth about systemic racism.

The article argues that news media, particularly corporate media, is enabling a distorted reality Jon Stewart refers to as 'Bullshit Mountain.' The author criticizes journalists for abandoning their watchdog role, leading to a lack of accountability for powerful entities. The piece references President Obama's call for more diligent journalism and discusses the case of journalist Jane Akre, who was fired for refusing to alter a story under pressure from Monsanto. The ruling in Akre's case is seen as setting a dangerous precedent for the legal spread of misinformation. The author concludes by urging the public to support independent media and hold journalists accountable.