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Prisoners in multiple states call for strikes to protest forced labor

Gaztopian said:
Agreed, but that can be achieved without profit in the equation. For instance, make the prisoners labor for the costs of their imprisonment.
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yep. seem to recall that the slave owners applied a similar justification
the slaves needed to work to pay for the cost of room and board and incidentals, such as iron manacles
i'm sure that belief comforted them while insisting that the enslaved others work to enrich themselves
 
justabubba said:
yep. seem to recall that the slave owners applied a similar justification
the slaves needed to work to pay for the cost of room and board and incidentals, such as iron manacles
i'm sure that belief comforted them while insisting that the enslaved others work to enrich themselves
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You aren't comparing slaves to criminals, are you?
 
radcen said:
I believe he's comparing the other side and how they/we treat other human beings.
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The difference is, slaves were seen as non persons. We are seeing criminals for what they actually are...someone who has done something illegal and must receive punishment fitting the crime. No comparison, none.
 
Lovebug said:
You aren't comparing slaves to criminals, are you?
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slaves were confined
made to work
lost their freedom

ditto for prisoners
society determined that they rightfully lost their freedom
but why should they be compelled to work
 
Lovebug said:
The difference is, slaves were seen as non persons. We are seeing criminals for what they actually are...someone who has done something illegal and must receive punishment fitting the crime. No comparison, none.
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Are you suggesting that all crimes are equal, and thus deserving of equal punishment? I doubt they separate the inmates and give some with lesser crimes easier work solely based on the particular crime(s) committed.
 
radcen said:
Are you suggesting that all crimes are equal, and thus deserving of equal punishment? I doubt they separate the inmates and give some with lesser crimes easier work solely based on the particular crime(s) committed.
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No, but you can't hardly let a murderer out on trash patrol. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
 
Erod said:
Maybe don't kill an old lady with a pick axe for $20, eh?

Problem solved.
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Never question the all-powerful state. The state knows what is best. The government should have the power to do whatever it wants to us as long as the government says we broke a law.

Or, perhaps even criminals have rights.
 
Scrabaholic said:
I have zero sympathy for them. They are there of their own doing. If they are going to act like this, they should get no meals as long as they are "striking".
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Party of small government, everybody!
 
justabubba said:
yep. seem to recall that the slave owners applied a similar justification
the slaves needed to work to pay for the cost of room and board and incidentals, such as iron manacles
i'm sure that belief comforted them while insisting that the enslaved others work to enrich themselves
Click to expand...

One malignant application of a benign idea doesn't dispel its benignity; otherwise, anyone will find a similar anecdote to discredit any idea not to his liking.

As such, you'll need more than a tangential anecdote to make your case against prison labor. What's so bad about prisoners occupying themselves productively and saving the state money? Why should society subsidize their criminality? isn't bad enough that we have to tolerate their existence in society and bear the brunt of their villainy? More importantly, the alternative is to have criminals idling all day, which bodes ill to all.
 
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