The Prison Industrial Complex: Does It Create A New Form Of Slavery? How Much Labor Is Done In The Prison System? What kind of jobs do prisoners get? As stated by many opponents, the Federal Prison Complex produces one hundred percent of all military helmets, ammunition belts, bullet proof vests, Identification tags, shirts, pants tents, bags and even canteens. Not only are prisoners used to manufacture military equipment, prison workers provide ninety eight percent of the total market for equipment assembly services. They produce ninety three percent of paints and paintbrushes, ninety two percent of stove assemblies, forty six percent of body armor, thirty six percent of all home appliances, thirty percent of all microphones, headphones, and speakers, and they even manufacture twenty one percent of all office furniture. Everything from parts for airplanes to medical supplies, prisoners produce even more than this, they are even used to train seeing eye dogs for the blind.
The history of prison labor in the United States! The use of prisoners as units of labor has its origins in the Institution of Slavery. After the Civil War (1861-1865) an organization of hiring out prisoners was introduced to the Country to maintain the tradition of slavery. Once the slaves aquired their Freedom, many were charged with not fulfilling their Sharecropping obligations. Sharecropping is the cultivation of the land belonging to another for a share of part of the harvest. Many others were charged with petty theft, most cases were never proven. After being convicted these prisoners were hired out to pick cotton, or to work in the mining industry and even aiding to build the countries railway system. Between 1870 and 1910 the State of Georgia hired out convicts that consisted of eighty eight percent of black prisoners! The State of Alabama hired out prisoners to work in mines, ninety three percent being black! The State of Mississippi constructed an enormous prison farm, being very similar to the older Slave Plantations except the slaves were replaced with convicts. This infamous Parchman Plantation remained in existence until the year 1972! full: _http://hubpages.com/hub/Is-The-Prison-Industrial-Complex-A-New-Form-Of-Slavery_ (http://hubpages.com/hub/Is-The-Prison-Industrial-Complex-A-New-Form-Of-Slavery) _______________________________________________ Marxist-Leninist-List mailing list Marxist-Leninist-List@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxist-leninist-list
