Food is often moldy or spoiled . Generally real meat is served one time a week and that is usually chicken. They may only have ten minutes in which to eat, so eat what is there fast. Many states do not allow the inmates to have television at all. Those states that do require the families to provide the televisions and the inmates are charged a fee for the use of electricity.
Televisions are a privilege, therefore they provide the prison a means of controlling the inmate.
So for the good of the inmates and the good of the staff things such as televisions are a benefit and the cost you, the taxpayer, nothing. Well some of them may be. So they are forced to spend long periods with nothing to do and no way to improve themselves. Work is also a privilege it is something that must be earned and may be taken away if you infringe upon any one of a million rules. If you believe that inmates get top quality medical care, think again.