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Dessalines@lemmy.ml to United States | News & Politics@lemmy.ml ·
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4 个月前

California enslaves 400 prisoners to fight wildfires.

www.theguardian.com

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California enslaves 400 prisoners to fight wildfires.

www.theguardian.com

Dessalines@lemmy.ml to United States | News & Politics@lemmy.ml ·
edit-2
4 个月前
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87
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  • cross-posted to:
  • usa@lemmy.ml
‘Essential’: nearly 800 incarcerated firefighters deployed as LA battles wildfires
www.theguardian.com
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The firefighters earn $5.80-$10.24 per day plus $1 an hour when responding to active emergencies, according to CDCR
  • Melllvar@startrek.website
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    4 个月前

    While I’d agree they deserve better pay, etc. these inmates volunteer for the work. Calling them “slaves” is ridiculous.

    • PunnyName@lemmy.world
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      4 个月前

      It’s literally slave labor.

      • Melllvar@startrek.website
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        4 个月前

        How so?

        • MothmanDelorian@lemmy.world
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          4 个月前

          Prisoners have limited rights to refuse anything. They are not fairly compensated for theor work and in other states the prisons “loan” prisoners to companies to do work who pay the prisons for this work.

          It’s slavery. The USA never banned slavery for prisoners. It’s literally in the 14th amendment.

          • halyk.the.red@lemmy.ml
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            4 个月前

            Don’t bother responding, they’re sealioning.

            • MothmanDelorian@lemmy.world
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              4 个月前

              Thank you, I will stop here.

      • corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca
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        4 个月前

        Seems figurative, but that’s just the dictionary.

    • Dessalines@lemmy.mlOP
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      4 个月前

      Wrong. They are slaves under the 13th amendment of the US, which explicitly allows slavery as punishment for a crime. Some more on this:

      The US currently operates a system of slave labor camps, including at least 54 prison farms involved in agricultural slave labor. Outside of agricultural slavery, Federal Prison Industries operates a multi-billion dollar industry with ~ 52 prison factories , where prisoners produce furniture, clothing, circuit boards, products for the military, computer aided design services, call center support for private companies. 1, 2, 3

      • The US has the highest incarceration rates in the world. Even individual US states outrank all other countries.
    • davel@lemmy.ml
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      4 个月前

      It is slavery, as allowed for under the US constitution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_exception_clause

      • Melllvar@startrek.website
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        4 个月前

        It’s not involuntary, though. They have to apply for the program, and can stop if they want.

        • Chuymatt@beehaw.org
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          4 个月前

          I might feel better about this program if they’re allowed to join after they get out of prison. But, because they were in prison, they are not allowed to join fire brigades. I feel that is cruel, and stupid.

        • PunnyName@lemmy.world
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          4 个月前

          Just like you can quit your job any time you want?

          Damn the consequences or any repercussions. Because there’s always the freedom of being destitute.

          • Melllvar@startrek.website
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            4 个月前

            Well, yes, just like me and my job, they can quit. What part of that suggests slavery?

            • PunnyName@lemmy.world
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              4 个月前

              Huh, apropos name…

            • CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work
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              4 个月前

              They’re incarcerated while I presume you are not. Apart from all the involuntary aspects of prison life, inmates are not allowed to negotiate individually or organize for better pay and conditions. They cannot choose a different employer. The freedom to choose to go to the fire camp or stay within the prison under conditions designed to coerce them to work isn’t really freedom. They’re slaves.

        • theonlytruescotsman@sh.itjust.works
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          4 个月前

          Unless no one volunteers. Then they’re forced to do it upon threat of torture and further loss of rights, and usually more prison time added.

          There is nothing voluntary about labor coerced.

          • Melllvar@startrek.website
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            4 个月前

            Citation needed.

            • bobs_guns@lemmygrad.ml
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              4 个月前

              Have you tried thinking?

        • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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          4 个月前

          Do you think there aren’t consequences for prisoners that refuse this “voluntary” service?

        • GeeDubHayduke@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          4 个月前

          I’d like to introduce you to the concept of being “volun-told.” Basically, it’s “volunteer, or be forced. Your choice.”

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