American prison system...

[cabrat]

Learnt this on QI, you know, and I do think it's kinda mad:

1% of America's male population are in prison. That's higher than any country in the world (UK tops the charts in Europe I believe).

Why so high? Well, it was since the introduction of the 'Three Strikes And Out' system of penalising. Apparently, there are people doing 20 years for stealing video tapes.

The comment made was how America has cunningly re-introduced slave labour, by using this incarcerated workforce for legitimate industry. Over 90% of the country's household paints, for example, are made by prisoners, as is a vast amount of flat-pack furniture. Apparently, the costs of manufacturing these products are lower than in Mexico and certain third world countries.

As a business model, it can't be faulted. Reduced crime rates (as happened when the 3strike thing was instigated in New York) will obviously lead to higher prison populations. Pay for this using them as a low-paid work-force, subsequently also providing cheaply manufactured goods that will boost the country's economy. It's not that it's a new way of thinking, it's just, well, so horribly efficient.

THEN consider that the majority of that 1% prison populace is black, add into the fact that this 'slave-labour' is now so vital to the US's economy, and the whole thing becomes FUCKED.

[werdnumb]

Land of the Free...

[Face Cage]

Learnt this on QI, you know, and I do think it's kinda mad:

1% of America's male population are in prison. That's higher than any country in the world (UK tops the charts in Europe I believe).

Why so high? Well, it was since the introduction of the 'Three Strikes And Out' system of penalising. Apparently, there are people doing 20 years for stealing video tapes.

The comment made was how America has cunningly re-introduced slave labour, by using this incarcerated workforce for legitimate industry. Over 90% of the country's household paints, for example, are made by prisoners, as is a vast amount of flat-pack furniture. Apparently, the costs of manufacturing these products are lower than in Mexico and certain third world countries.

As a business model, it can't be faulted. Reduced crime rates (as happened when the 3strike thing was instigated in New York) will obviously lead to higher prison populations. Pay for this using them as a low-paid work-force, subsequently also providing cheaply manufactured goods that will boost the country's economy. It's not that it's a new way of thinking, it's just, well, so horribly efficient.

THEN consider that the majority of that 1% prison populace is black, add into the fact that this 'slave-labour' is now so vital to the US's economy, and the whole thing becomes FUCKED.

America is a fucked up fascist country innit?

[Old Father Disc]

The comment made was how America has cunningly re-introduced slave labour, by using this incarcerated workforce for legitimate industry. Over 90% of the country's household paints, for example, are made by prisoners, as is a vast amount of flat-pack furniture. Apparently, the costs of manufacturing these products are lower than in Mexico and certain third world countries.

Yep. Waging war against the Soviet Union for 40 years really taught America how to exploit undesirables. GULAG USA!

[Commander Ballsack]

Yep. It's a fucking disgrace.

[Bin Ray]

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r188.pdf

A quarter of the human beings behind bars anywhere on the planet are incarcerated in the United States.

[werdnumb]

Makes you wonder whether Douglas Adams wasn't onto something.

[Benchic]

To lower the tone (but man, I lolled.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eZSKen1 ... re=related

[Unkle Magma]

To lower the tone (but man, I lolled.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eZSKen1 ... re=related

Best conversation I've heard today. Neither of them flinch. Amazing.