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Return to Article: Prison industries overhaul bill stalls in House committee

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  I thought the uncivil "Civil War" determined that the states would form a union and there would be no salves in that union. Now Congress takes all the locked up people (mostly blacks) and says they should provide the furniture for government operations! Slaves in prison providing furniture that people working in the private sector should be providing! Congress now proposes slavery be reestablished in the guise of prisoners paying their way. If they are supposed to pay their way, they shouldn't be in prison. Also the level of comfort and benefits they get in prison should be reduced significantly from present levels. Prisoners in the USA live better than most people in sub-Saharan Africa and most of South America's rural population.

  Private Industry Posted July 21, 2005 7:30 AM
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  This entire issue simply illusrates the problems with state control of a market (communist concept). The basis of control is not competition but alterior motives, such as training inmates for their return to society. Given five different people you will get five different this is what you should dop! That is why we elect representative, senators and executive heads. They mnake the decisions.

  If I were making the decision I would agrue that the prisoners should work in habitat for humanity to provide poor people with houses while they learn construction. Also, those that cannot leave the pen should build furniture and fixtures to go into the habitat for humanity housing. Likewise, the prisoners could provide labor to reparir existing housing and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could provide funding for low income home purchasers (probably old apartment buildings converted into low cost condos by prisoners).

  taxpayer Posted July 18, 2005 8:48 AM
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  Hurrah for Rep. Chabot! Finally someone has the courage to stand up to the Michigan furniture cartel.

  Harold Posted July 15, 2005 4:03 PM