Except that he's being held in the UK, so I'm not sure what the point is of your criticism of the US prison system.

My point is that a lot of U.S. citizens will be reading this and if they are feeling a healthy dose is concern for Mr. Assange they should be aware that his essentially the fate of many of their countrymen.

How is comparing what Assange is (reportedly) experiencing in a UK prison in any way valid for criticizing the US prison system? I know we're supposed to assume the least objectionable interpretation of someone's comments, but this really sounds like a weird pivot designed to push some sort of anti-US agenda, when there's NOTHING related to the conditions of the US prison system even relevant to this particular discussion.

Health care during incarceration is a problem most places in the world. As far as I can tell in the U.K. and Europe it is generally better. But what Mr. Assange is experiencing in the U.K. is pretty comparable to the U.S. If Americans are going to bother to fret over his situation you should probably have a similar or greater level of concern for what is going on in your own country which you actually have some hope changing. To have special concern for this one person is just trading on fame, you might as well be following tabloids.

It's generally a good idea to have a more sympathetic figure for those sorts of causes.