this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2025
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United States | News & Politics

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California enslaves 400 prisoners to fight wildfires. (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) by dessalines@lemmy.ml to c/usa@lemmy.ml
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[–] CrimeDad@lemmy.crimedad.work 22 points 20 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.