Is that what we’re calling slaves now? A hidden workforce?

There was a plan at one point to outsource drive through window speaker boxes to prison labor. Not sure whatever became of that.

And that’s if they’re lucky!

https://www.al.com/news/2023/12/fast-food-chains-use-alabama-prison-inmates-as-slave-labor-lawsuit-alleges.html

"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

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.