/u/clay_pigeon on Reddit

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Cake day: June 14th, 2023

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  • Clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.workstoAsk Lemmy@lemmy.worldWhy do prisons exist?
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    7 days ago

    This feels like nonsense to me, looking at the numbers. The U.S. spends something like $80 billion a year on prisons, and prison labor supposedly generates around $9 billion a year. What is that, a negative 81% ROI?

    Prison labor like we read about is not humane and would be unconstitutional​ in a better country, but I can’t see it as the REASON for prisons. Ultimately, people feel good about punishing “bad” people. I don’t think it goes any deeper than that.