Prison Labor

There is a continuingly alarming movement to increase the use of prison labor in the US. Givin the history of prison labor, and the potential for abuses, I am quite alarmed by this.

Currently only Oregon forces (by law) all inmates to work 40 hours a week

"Whereas the people of the state of Oregon find and declare that inmates who are confined in corrections institutions should work as hard as the taxpayers who provide for their upkeep … now, therefore, the people declare … All inmates of state corrections institutions shall be actively engaged fulltime in work or on-the-job training." — 1994 amendment to Oregon's constitution

But there are many reported instances of prisoners being punished for complaining of poor working conditions, safety hazards and abuse by privately owned and operated prisons.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E3D6123AF93AA25750C0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2

Because they are paid (as little as $.21/hr), the argument is there that Slavery does not exist in prisons, but forced labor is slavery in my book.

Currently US law does not prohibit this practice, infact the 13th amendment expressly permits it.

Amendment 13 - Slavery Abolished
1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation

About time

For what its worth.

I decided it was time to post my inner ramblings on the state of Peace and Justice in the world.
There is so much that I hear and see on a daily basis that prompts me to act, this is how it begins.
I speak for myself, and hope to encourage others to do the same.