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In reply to the discussion: Is forced prison labor 'slavery' under color of the law? [View all]coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)40. Interesting points you raise. Up thread you will find a sub-thread between
me and FarCenter as to why prison sentences are so lengthy and possible alternatives.
I actually have a problem with the fine structure as administered in the U.S. because often it seems to me to function as a de facto regressive tax (hitting everyone equally regardless of his or her ability to pay). But I think most people would distinguish between a monetary 'fine' and 'slavery,' the latter being forced labor as a condition of incarceration.
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Color of law is now 'green' (as in money). Corporations OWN this fucking place. -eom
Huey P. Long
Jun 2012
#1
So has 'slavery' slipped back in through the prison system, in your opinion?
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#3
Yes. And taken lots of jobs with it. More heads of households could be employed if
nanabugg
Jun 2012
#50
I've heard of chain gangs, but thought they were a distant relic of
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#21
One theory of prisons is that they should be so unpleasant that no one wants to come back
FarCenter
Jun 2012
#25
Oh, I get the deterrent principle behind 'hard labor' but it should be tied to
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#26
I think that historically prison stays were short; you got out quickly dead or alive.
FarCenter
Jun 2012
#28
It was due to high recidivism rates and the need to "get criminals off the streets"
FarCenter
Jun 2012
#34
Citizenship, Labor, and Human Rights are denied to Slaves of the State, see Ruffin...
prisonslavery1
Jun 2012
#52
First of all, thank you for the link.Will read later today. Your points and stats
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#14
I will admit some ignorance, but I thought work programs in prisons were voluntary
aikoaiko
Jun 2012
#12
You and I both (on the "some ignorance" front), but I have heard and
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#13
The 13th Amendment explicitly exempts forced labor as punishment upon conviction of a crime.
backscatter712
Jun 2012
#29
It may be constitutional, but there was a time before passage of the
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#30
May be a little off topic, but your comment on 23-hour-a-day lock down is something Senator
sad sally
Jun 2012
#37
Not off topic at all, espeically if the penalty for refusing to work
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#41
Interesting points you raise. Up thread you will find a sub-thread between
coalition_unwilling
Jun 2012
#40