tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post1389442314498765854..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Sheriffs' use of jail labor ripe for statewide investigation, legislative fixGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-27428150222904680672008-04-18T21:58:00.000-05:002008-04-18T21:58:00.000-05:00hmmm, Munoz a former commander of a drug task forc...hmmm, Munoz a former commander of a drug task force, a former sheriif, and the guy who later funded the task forces for Gov. Ann. Not the best guy to comment on what a sheriff should do...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-24507925267281885622008-04-03T13:40:00.000-05:002008-04-03T13:40:00.000-05:00Needless to say, when you tie this in with the Dru...Needless to say, when you tie this in with the DrugWar's traditional targets being people of color, particularly the descendants of former slaves, one has to wonder whether the Prison/Industrial complex is not a form of institutionalized slavery given a 21st century coat of paint.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-73070127611251097162008-04-03T13:36:00.000-05:002008-04-03T13:36:00.000-05:00Anon 09:31, I can agree that slavery has not been ...Anon 09:31, I can agree that slavery has not been abolished...but not only has it not been abolished in Texas, <I>it remains in effect throughout the Union</I>, courtesy of the Thirteenth Amendment. <BR/><BR/>Take a closer look at it, and you find that slavery is indeed reserved as a punishment:<BR/><BR/><I>Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, <B>except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted</B>, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.<BR/><BR/>Section 2. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.</I> - (Emphasis mine - k.)<BR/><BR/>So...no argument that forced labor is slavery. But it's fallen out of fashion to describe it for what it <I>is</I>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-33107769226664996902008-04-02T21:31:00.000-05:002008-04-02T21:31:00.000-05:00"Munoz declared he does not believe misuse of inma..."Munoz declared he does not believe misuse of inmate labor is a statewide problem"<BR/><BR/>Texas is the only state in the union that has legal institutional slavery. Prisoners are routinely "coerced" to work 10 hour days at prison "jobs", many of which are "sub hired" to large corps(example Texas Instrumments) Inmates are paid NOTHING. Conditions are poor and frequently unhealthy. With parole rules currently, there is no "good time" off for working. Supposedly, the profits from said labor go towards the care and housing of the prisoners. Anyone with experience at TDCJ will clear up that misinformation. There are huge profits being made from unpaid(often minority) workers. Sadly, even the 13th Amendment states that prisoners can be forced to work without pay. However, the US signed international conventions that ban slavery(international law trumps national law)Texas didn't get the memo. I don't think these men did anything the state of Texas hasn't been doing for a long time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-73328026917187061232008-04-02T16:26:00.000-05:002008-04-02T16:26:00.000-05:00Accountability is fairly straightforward. Anyone w...Accountability is fairly straightforward. Anyone who abets the escape of a prisoner gets sent to prison -- even if he returns the escapee at the end of the day. Those convicted should of course be put in with the general population.<BR/><BR/>Abuse your position, assume the position, it's that simple.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-47495219297611205232008-04-02T14:57:00.000-05:002008-04-02T14:57:00.000-05:00The one that killed himself must have had some ser...The one that killed himself must have had some serious mental health issues. There ain't no job and no woman worth off'in yourself for. <BR/><BR/>Signed,<BR/>Coalition of Smith County Citizens in Favor of Deputies Using Inmates for Personal Gain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com