New weapon in the great war of the haves vs, the have nots: debtor's prison

[baldguy]

Govt. Notices Rise Of "Debtor's Prisons," Doesn't Like Them

An increasing tool of choice for collection agencies is getting folks thrown in jail for missing "financial assessment hearings," even when the folks had good reason - like moving and never getting the letter - or the validity of the debt is in dispute. In addition, collectors are requesting forfeited bail to pay off judgment, turning our local jails into de facto debtor's prisons, and the police into deputized debt collection agents. Now regulators and officials are taking notice, and taking action to curb some of the worst abuses.

http://consumerist.com/2010/10/debtors-prisons.html

Well, maybe not so new.

[aquart]

1. I was raised to believe the US does not have debtor's prisons.

[baldguy]

2. We also used to have the First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth & Ninth Amendments too.

9/11 changed everything.

[Fumesucker]

3. Yeah, and I was raised to believe only Communist governments spied on their own people..

Even though it was a lie at the time..

But it's even more of a lie now.

[cascadiance]

4. And that kingdoms were worse than elected governments because they didn't have habeus corpus...

... to protect people accused of crimes.

[whathehell]

5. Debtors prisons?? I thought they went out with Charles freaking Dickens!

Maybe we should bring back Child Labor too..:eyes: