When a society controlled by a majority gets to stipulate what is and is not a crime. You can't see how that would lead to issues? I don't like XYZ that you LOVE doing, so Ill go and make that a crime, now you are a criminal, better get to work.
You're both in the right. This isn't a black and white issue.
It's a very humane thing to allow prisoners to still be useful, contribute to society, and learn new skills. As long as they get a fair wage, aren't worked to the bone, and aren't imprisoned solely to enrich some wannabe plantation owner, it can be a positive thing.
Try not working. Slaves being paid isn't new. The defining feature is punishment for refusing to work. Furthermore southern states pretty quickly created the black codes after the amendment was passed with the intention of re-enslaving any black people who didn't voluntarily remain on their plantations. This implicit system remained in use until the 1940's. They also practiced debt slavery where workers who weren't convicted of anything could be charged a debt by their employer and then legally kept as slaves. That also lasted until FDR.
Now we have the last remaining vestige where convicts are forced to work in jobs that do nothing for their rehabilitation. You don't need years to learn how to clean or work a cafeteria. And the other big jobs aren't available to ex-convicts. Until the 13th is amended we won't have rehabilitation.
And if you're worried about the pay, don't be. They make literal pennies per hour and 80 percent of it is taken for costs.
Remember, the 13th Amendment didn't illegalize slavery, it just required you to go through the song and dance of securing a bullshit contrived criminal conviction for your slaves before you use them.
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