The "drink from the toilet" thing is REAL--NOT an exaggeration. Pics of toilet-fountains in cells:

[tblue37]

Read the whole thread to see all the pics! The pic shown is of a relatively clean toilet-fountain. The pics show that most are far nastier.

Link to tweet

Would you want to drink no from that fountain? Furthermore, as AOC says in a post a ways down the thread, when she was there NO water came out of the fountain when they tried ed to turn it on, so the only available water in the cell actually was the water in the toilet bowl!

The pics in the thread also show how dirty the place is, and show a small child crawling on the floor near the toilet.

The only privacy for using the toilet is a low half wall. Would you like to use the toilet in a small, cramped cell with over a dozen people and with no privacy? I sure wouldn't.

[tblue37]

1. Look at this disgusting thing:

Link to tweet

[tblue37]

2. AOC confirmed that was the type of fountain she saw--and that it didn't work:

Link to tweet

[procon]

10. If this was a safe and sanitary method of

effectively distributing clean drinking water, then those systems would be everywhere in both private and public facilities.

I've never seen anything like that in any building I've ever worked in. I wouldn't put one in my house. Although I have seen a camping trailer with a small bathroom that included a shower and a hand washing sink attached to the back of the toliet; it wasn't intended for drinking.

[MineralMan]

3. Standard-issue jail and prison fixtures.

Sink and toilet in one stainless steel unit.

[tblue37]

4. With the fountain not working?

[dameatball]

5. They are supposed to be working, but MM is correct. This is pretty much standard insitutional

equipment. Anti-ligature, no parts to be removed as weapons, supposedly easy to maintain. The trick is that someone actually has to make sure they are maintained properly. I doubt you would ever find a traditional porcelain bowl in any modern institutional setting. There is no privacy whatsoever. I would hate that and it's sad to see.

[MineralMan]

8. Well, of course not.

If it doesn't work, then you can't use it. The thing is, these people are not in prison. They are asylum-seekers, for the most part. Why are they held in prison-like settings? That was my point with the prison reference.

At the cost we keep hearing about per person, they could be in hotels with room service for less money.

"Welcome to the United States of America. While you are waiting for your asylum request to be processed, we have these rooms available for you and your family. They include daily housekeeping services. You can dine in the hotel's restaurant or order room service if you do not feel like eating in the restaurant. We hope you are comfortable, and we will try to expedite your application for asylum. If you need medical care, please visit the clinic on the first floor. A nurse is there to assist you all day. If there is an emergency, just dial 911 on the telephone."

We could do it that way, too, you know.

[Gothmog]

6. I believe both AOC and Joaquin Castro on these claims

[Calculating]

7. The lack of privacy is pretty disturbing

Like, how are people supposed to live in such dehumanizing conditions? They couldn't even spend a little more for stalls/doors? Is our standard for these camps supposed to be "marginally better than nazi death camps" or something?

[eppur_se_muova]

9. When toilets flush, contaminated spray can travel 3-4 feet.

No sinks for drinking water, toothbrushes, toothpaste, medicines, etc. should be any closer to the toilet than that. It's Sanitation 101.

[tblue37]

11. +1. nt

[Frustratedlady]

12. From what they are charging per day for these people, someone should be

serving clean ice water w/lemon slice to each person every hour.