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I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
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Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#22[flagged]
So you are cool with private industry making millions on the back of “captive” slave labor markets for $1 an hour?
UNICOR is a wholly owned government corporation not a private company. Average cost to taxpayers per incarcerated person is about $100K. So let them work for free up until that amount.
But even if it were private, how ethically is this worse than private companies making billions building weapons of mass destruction? Or platforms of mass surveillance?
Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#23Whether someone is a criminal or not doing this work is besides the point. The person is being punished for the crime through incarceration. Having to serve as a slave in that system should be illegal. This is btw also common practice in Germany and France. Prisoners who want access to sports, more than 1 shower a week, a TV/radio, etc ... are only able to do so when taking part in prison work. Edit: And whether one…
> Having to serve as a slave in that system should be illegal. Good luck with that. Legal slavery is literally codified into our bill of rights.
It's a nitpick, but that's not in the bill of rights, if you're referring to the 13th amendment. ("Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted")
Of course, the fifth amendment can be construed to take away any right as long as there's due process (which is why the state can take away 2nd amendment rights from felons)
"...nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law..."
Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#24Whether someone is a criminal or not doing this work is besides the point. The person is being punished for the crime through incarceration. Having to serve as a slave in that system should be illegal. This is btw also common practice in Germany and France. Prisoners who want access to sports, more than 1 shower a week, a TV/radio, etc ... are only able to do so when taking part in prison work. Edit: And whether one…
> Having to serve as a slave in that system should be illegal. Good luck with that. Legal slavery is literally codified into our bill of rights.
It’s hard to believe this couldn’t be amended given how unjust it is.
I guess the fact that it hasn’t been amended shows everyone how expendable they truly are.
Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#25[flagged]
I agree with you but then the proceeds should go back to the government to pay for those things.
Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#26Whether someone is a criminal or not doing this work is besides the point. The person is being punished for the crime through incarceration. Having to serve as a slave in that system should be illegal. This is btw also common practice in Germany and France. Prisoners who want access to sports, more than 1 shower a week, a TV/radio, etc ... are only able to do so when taking part in prison work. Edit: And whether one…
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This doesn't really make for a compelling argument, as it's an appeal to authority without substantiation ("the majority agree with me, so I must be right")
Plus, it's a "what if" statement that completely ignores our form of government (ie, the US doesn't have national referendums)
Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#27[flagged]
Prison-for-profit, either privately-run, with slave labor, or both, creates perverse incentives to convict more people of crimes and to keep them incarcerated longer.
This is not just hypothetical. The notorious Pennsylvania 'kids-for-cash' case was particularly egregious.
https://www.npr.org/2022/08/18/1118108084/michael-conahan-ma...
Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Having to serve as a slave in that system should be illegal. Good luck with that. Legal slavery is literally codified into our bill of rights.
It’s hard to believe this couldn’t be amended given how unjust it is. I guess the fact that it hasn’t been amended shows everyone how expendable they truly are.
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Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#29Earlier quoted context omitted.
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This doesn't really make for a compelling argument, as it's an appeal to authority without substantiation ("the majority agree with me, so I must be right") Plus, it's a "what if" statement that completely ignores our form of government (ie, the US doesn't have national referendums)
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Re: I worked in federal prison sweatshops for 23 cents an hour
#30I don’t really like that prison labor is used for consumer products. However if prisoners would like to be part of voluntary labor units that do outdoor work like tree plants, reservoir digs, and other public good/infrastructure building that would be useful and not competitive to private firms. I’m not sure i care at all about “prison jobs” that require them to clean dishes, prepare their own food, or wash their own…
Texas limits commercial labor to products that are sold or traded with other government entities, so it's a matter of interpretation as to whether that's unfair competition (since those entities would otherwise need to purchase those goods in the free market)