5 replies to this topic

[TakeAStepBack]

Georgia Considers Replacing Firefighters With Free Prison Laborers

Thursday 13 October 2011
by: Marie Diamond, ThinkProgress | Report
Forcing prison inmates to work as unpaid laborers is not a new practice, but GOP-controlled states are increasing taking the idea to extremes as they face budget shortfalls and refuse to raise taxes. Under Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) anti-collective bargaining law, at least one Wisconsin county replaced some union workers with prison labor. Inmates are not paid for their work, but may receive time off of their sentences.

Now Camden County in Georgia is considering tasking prisoners to take on one of the most dangerous jobs there is: fighting fires. Using prisoners as firefighters is a cost-cutting measure that

[TakeAStepBack]

Wow....I got nothing....

[beerzrkr]

In Switzerland you volunteer for a few weeks a year or you pay a hefty ass fee for the

[DancingBearly]

I think a lot houses will burn to the ground. I am sure some prisoners are in for arson too.
Back in the day you payed a fee to the local fire department and they put up a sign on your house that you were protected. If you didn't have a sign then they would still come out to watch it burn and stop it from spreading to those who had paid their fee.

[Shake Yer Bones]

Not sure that's such a great idea since the job requires such specific training. But I've always wondered why we can't put prisoners to work more often cleaning roadsides, cleaning parks, etc. I see them from time to time here in New York, but it should be done more often. I know if I were in the hooskow, I'd sign up for these gigs to get fresh air.

[Spidergawd]

This is now in my top ten stupidest, most irresponsible ideas of the year.