[arentyouspecial]

Except they did when they said “ Most people would also agree, providing a purpose - jobs, training and skills to inmates is a net win for everyone involved, and is a core component in rehabilitation - directly combating rescindance.”

I’m not down playing the Chinese labor camps, I’m taking issue with claiming the prison labor in the US is some moral good. It’s exploiting people, not attempting to rehabilitating them.

[Alupis]

You're forgetting the prison labor programs in the US are largely voluntary.

I say largely because there are some cases where punishment dictates certain number of hours worked, etc... but we're splitting hairs at this point.

[arentyouspecial]

Then why aren’t they paid a fair wage? Keep moving the goal post, but these people are being exploited.

[Alupis]

Yes, you can indeed continue to move the goal posts, but acknowledge we're far into the weeds and even further from what the article focused on - Religious Slave Labor Camps in China.

Why aren't inmates paid a "fair" wage? Well, that's up for debate and I think I'd enjoy hearing pros and cons.

Some cons I could think of are:

* These are inmates, serving a sentence as punishment for a crime they were convicted of.

* Most of their living expenses are already provided.

* Alternatives include doing nothing all day instead of a job.

* If inmate labor cost what non-inmate labor costs, why would anyone hire inmates?

* The labor programs are largely voluntary.

* The money earned is used as a reward for participation, good behavior, and showing a willingness to work and get along with other inmates. Misbehave and you don't get to work, and don't earn money.

Now maybe it is time to step up some sort of minimum wage for inmates... but that doesn't distract from atrocities the CCP is committing in present day.

[sellyme]

> * These are inmates, serving a sentence as punishment for a crime they were convicted of.

If the gaol sentence is their punishment, why are they being penalised further by reduced wages?

> * If inmate labor cost what non-inmate labor costs, why would anyone hire inmates?

Government-backed incentives. It's in everyone's best interests for people convicted of crimes to have a path back on to the straight-and-narrow. Investing in reducing recidivism is far better value for money than almost any other anti-crime measures.

> * The labor programs are largely voluntary. [...] Alternatives include doing nothing all day instead of a job.

These statements are contradictory.

[arentyouspecial]

I’m not the one moving the goal post, I remain steadfast that they are being exploited and every time I point this out you give a slightly different reason as to why they are not. First it was the two systems (China vs US) are vastly different, then it was the convict leasing was ended, then it was voluntary (except when it isn’t), then it was at least they get paid, then it was well they are criminals so they deserve it.