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A comment on Patterns of Death in the South Still Show the Outlines of Slavery. Parent comment

Re:Patterns of Death in the South Still Show the Outlines of... by aaron-lebo on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @01:00PM (#15543100)
There's some truth to it but the original post is way too simplistic.

They are suggesting that prison, even today, is equivalent to slavery. There is injustice within the modern prison system, but prison is not slavery, at least in the right context it is a place for punishment and rehabilitation.

Sure prisons make a profit off their prisoners, but those profits are nothing like those obtained by slavery, it's an extreme exaggeration and the problem with the justice system isn't just race, if someone wants to suggest that.

removal of slavery as a punishment

What is actually being proposed here?

To say we "never quit doing slavery" is to ignore the massive improvements and lives dedicated to get rid of actual, you know, slavery.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Patterns of Death in the South Still Show the Outlines of... by mikeash on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @01:25PM (#15543313)
The Constitution explicitly permits slavery for criminals, and many prisons take advantage of this. How is that simplistic?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Patterns of Death in the South Still Show the Outlines of... by aaron-lebo on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @01:28PM (#15543341)
It is simplistic exactly because that is not equivalent to slavery circa 1860 which is what is suggested through "we never quit doing slavery".
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Patterns of Death in the South Still Show the Outlines of... by mikeash on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @02:29PM (#15543972)
Slavery has changed but it hasn't ended. The post discusses the changes, so again, what's simplistic?
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Patterns of Death in the South Still Show the Outlines of... by swasheck on Tuesday October 24, 2017 @02:11PM (#15543801)
So the post is missing nuance in favor of a "big picture" opinion. I still view it as a thoughtful take on the situation. Then again, I generally only downvote trolls and distractions, not thoughtful posts with which I disagree.
[ Parent | on HN ]