• DessalinesOP
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      3116 hours ago

      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

      • Melllvar
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        -1616 hours ago

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

        • @[email protected]
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          115 minutes ago

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

        • @[email protected]
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          2516 hours ago

          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.

        • @PunnyName
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          1516 hours ago

          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
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            -1216 hours ago

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

            • CrimeDad
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              2216 hours ago

              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.

        • queermunist she/her
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          916 hours ago

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

    • @PunnyName
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      1516 hours ago

      It’s literally slave labor.

        • @MothmanDelorian
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          2216 hours ago

          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.