Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 23:32:36 -0500
From: thaughey <thaughey at acnet.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Modern Slavery
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

I believe that the whole discussion of forced labor misses the point.  A
person who isn't free is enslaved whether he works or not.  A person is
just as much a slave if he sits in a cell doing nothing.  In fact, doing
something is generally preferred by inmates.  Work also helps prepare a
prisoner for life after prison since it establishes a routine of work in
the lives of people who may never have worked productively in their lives.

During the Great Depression there was a law passed at the urging of
labor unions not to allow interstate commerce in prison made goods.
This was no altruistic, anti-slavery action.  The unions didn't want
prisoners to take jobs from union members.  At a time when ten million
illegal aliens are taking jobs away from legal residents and
rediculously cheap goods are being imported from China, I wonder how
great the impact of prison made goods could realistically be today.

It costs more to feed and house a prisoner today than it does to put a
student through Harvard.  Many states have restitution laws and earning
a salary in prison therefore helps victims.  Generally prisoners are
paid.  Part of the salary goes to victims.  Part goes to the prisoner's
family on the outside if he has one.  Part goes to the prisoner for
incidental purchases in prison.  The prison factory profits go toward
paying the costs of guarding and maintaining the prisoner.  If someone
is paid and receives benefit from that pay, is that slavery?  In
colonial America youngsters were contracted to serve for years as
apprentices by their parents.  They received room, board, and training.
Benjamin Franklin graduated from such a system.  Was he a slave?  He
certainly was forced to work and did not receive formal pay.  Today
baseball players contract their services to the highest bidder and must
work to fulfill that contract for face severe repercussions.  Are they
slaves?  Are union members working under negotiated contracts slaves
because they are required to work?

The example given of the ten year old girl forced to do housework by the
Egyptian family is an extremely unfortunate and revolting event.  I do
not believe, however, that it is similar in kind to requiring prisoners
(who are in prison for the purpose of reform and punishment) to work.
The girl did nothing wrong and was simply being exploited

A better case can be made for the establishment of a company store to
keep tenant farmers perpetually in debt to the former plantation owner
is an economic form of slavery.