[taxcontrol]

Personnally, I think criminal slavery should be re-introduced. Instead of sending someone to 5 years in a "club fed" - put their 5 year contract on the auction block. Buyers of the contracts would have the right to require any legal work from the prisoner. Then prevent any lawsuits or penalities against the contract owners for any treatment during the contract period. Contract owners would be required to provide food, water, clothing appropriate to the conditions, sanitation, a place to rest and 6 hours of sleep per day. Five years in a sugar cane field or hoeing weeds in a farmers field during a Kansas summer just might convince the con to not return to a life of crime. Proceeds of the sale would go to the treasury.

I know it would never happen. That there would be a lot of details that would need to be worked out. And that the idea would be attacked by the bleeding harts - but - it is allowed under the constitution.

Amendment XIII - Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

[Sonny M]

Amendment 13 has been interpreted as to mean that once convicted, they may either be forced to work in prison or forced to do community service. Not argueing with you. Both of these are done, however, it has been basically stated that this is a governemt right. A little scary when you think about, technically, and constitutionally, if you commit a crime, the government can make you a slave to work for it. This is the underlying basis for community service, which ironically is usually for small crimes.