The Associated Press found goods linked to prisoners wind up in the supply chains of everything from Frosted Flakes to Coca-Cola.
  • cranakis@reddthat.com
    501·
    2 years ago

    "But thanks to Reaganomics, prison turned to profits

    'Cause free labor’s the cornerstone of US economics

    'Cause slavery was abolished, unless you are in prison

    You think I am bullshittin’, then read the 13th Amendment

    Involuntary servitude and slavery it prohibits

    That’s why they givin’ drug offenders time in double digits."

    Killer Mike - Reagan

    • Deceptichum@kbin.social
      5·
      2 years ago

      Few months ago, I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages.

      My heart and my best intentions still tell me that’s true.

      But the facts and the evidence tell me it is not.

  • MSgtRedFox@infosec.pub
    8·
    2 years ago

    Before I started reading that article, I was slightly in support of prison labor. Everything I read about incarceration is that it’s incredibly expensive.

    I thought it would understandable to help offset the costs, not actually make money. I didn’t see anything in the article that put over all costs and profits into context. I can’t imagine those systems are actually generating more money than the total costs of incarceration, but I have no idea.

    Then I got to the parts about safety, inappropriate/illegal? coercion, and abuse. I know there’s some worse places to be in prison in the world, but still.

    We used to make people do stupid shit like break rocks just for punishment, but I don’t see how that rehabilitates. Learning job skills is good, nice to hear a few people were bettered and got jobs, but legislators in those states probably need to be harassed until we get prisoners treated in appropriate ways.

    • NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world
      18·
      2 years ago

      The problem is the prisons are for profit.

      Prisons get money from state for taking care of prisoners

      Prisons put workers to work at slave wages.

      State reps get kickbacks from Prisons to encourage more incarceration.

      Police happily target black people and minorities and get them sent to prison

      Prisoners work for slave wages

      Rinse repeat.

      If the Prisons were state run not for profit, this might work out better, but that’s often not the case.