For the bottom 1%: Prison Release or Factories Behind Bars
In our prisons today are 2,200,000 people… and their wages are typically about 23 cents an hour. They are, essentially, the bottom 1%. Many of them are there for violent crimes, theft, fraud, and other such things. But hundreds of thousands of them are there for buying, selling, or producing illegal drugs. The drug war has put them there. And we taxpayers are paying $30,000 a year and more to keep them there….
We hear the occupy people advocate taxing the top 1% more. I’ve got a better idea: let’s tax the top 1% less – they’re already paying a disproportionately high share of taxes – and let a few hundred thousand of the bottom 1% percent out of prison and out of their grinding poverty in prison.
And my comment:
And for those who are kept in prison, let’s allow factories behind bars, so that they earn more than 23 cents an hour. Here is the principle: just because a person is imprisoned does not mean he should lose his right to work. In fact, prisoners should be able to work for any employer at any task, consistent with the prison’s need for order and security.
“Just because a person is imprisoned does not mean he should lose his right to work.”
Isn’t the whole point of prison to deny rights to prisoners?
Could not have said it better or more succinctly.
John, I like your comment.
The size of the prison population and the amount we spend maintaining it is a national disgrace. Unfortunately, politicians are rewarded for appearing “tough on crime”, so the incentives to continue this pattern are pretty strong.
How do you protect against forced labor?
I have another idea. Instead of states wasting the Obama stimulous money on unnecessary expenditures, why not use the money on actual priorities. Prisons aren’t the only facilites in jeopardy. Nursing homes and handicap facilites are also being threatened to shut down. New bridges and roads are not at the top of my concern.
Yes, let the prisoners earn their keep. And when they do, give them more than a package of Ho Hos for Christmas dinner.
I agree with Eric and I like Virginia’s question. The whole “tough on crime” stance that some politicians like to take is overrated and has led to higher taxpayer expenses by increasing the prison population.