3 ms·
> Slave labor is the labor of a slave. Removing the labor does not remove the slavery. What is happening in California is indentured servitude. I consider tha
by mulmen 2y ago
> Slave labor is the labor of a slave. Removing the labor does not remove the slavery.
What is happening in California is indentured servitude. I consider that to be a form of slavery. The labor is precisely what makes it slavery.
> How do you distinguish incarceration from slavery?
The compulsory uncompensated labor.
If prisoners received a fair wage and work was optional then I would have no objection. But they don’t receive a fair wage and working is not optional. Thus the prisoners are enslaved.
- s1artibartfast 2y agoI think I would be OK with demonetizing all prisoner labor and stipulating that any particularly risky work must be voluntary. I dont think it is unreasonable to expect non-voluntary labor to be included as part of a normal sentence. Ideally this non-voluntary work would be limited to supporting prison operations (e.g. cooking, cleaning, upkeep, ect). This work offsets the substantial costs of their incarceration to society and is part of the punishment. I think it is also reasonable to offer fully voluntary service outside of the prison if it benefits society at large. I think it is reasonable to view this as accelerated restitution to society for their crimes, and reward it with earlier release and additional benefits. I think the main area where we might agree is preventing the prison (or state) from selling their labor for the benefit of a 3rd party. Overall, I would like to see the expansion of productive prison labor where possible to provide social benefit (for example cleaning up litter, ect.)