Modern-day slavery in Florida?
Federal agents on Friday raided a migrant worker camp in Florida where homeless men and women lived in conditions described by a labor official as modern-day slavery, according to the Associated Press. Four face charges in a case that is expected to grow. Authorities also were looking into environmental and drug violations.
"Officials said homeless people were recruited to the Evans Labor Camp through offers of room and board, along with alcohol, tobacco and drugs, which they bought on credit. But they never made enough in the field to pay it off, according to an investigative summary. 'A lot of times, they get them indebted even before they get back to the camp,' federal agent Rebecca Hall said."While it's stunning such third-world conditions exist in the world's richest country, what does it say for America's growing greed-based culture of Haves fueled by the hard work of many Have-nots? Progressive leaders need to take note of these symptoms and work to treat the culture's economic ills.
posted by Andy Brack @ 7:53 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
While I certainly agree that the Florida slave labor camps are morally and ethically wrong and illegal, and that those responsible should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, I find it inappropriate to engage in unfounded and inflammatory rhetoic such as "what does it say for America's greed-based culture of Haves fueled by the hard work ofmany have-nots?" If you want to engage in that, I would turn it around and say what does it say about the 50% of people in this country who pay no income tax at all, letting the top 4% of households pay over 50% of all tax dollars in the U.S. and who want everything the Have's have without having to work for it? If this type of talk is what your organization routelinely believes in, then it is not the organization I choose to be a member of
While I certainly agree that the Florida slave labor camps are morally and ethically wrong and illegal, and that those responsible should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, I find it inappropriate to engage in unfounded and inflammatory rhetoic such as "what does it say for America's greed-based culture of Haves fueled by the hard work ofmany have-nots?" If you want to engage in that, I would turn it around and say what does it say about the 50% of people in this country who pay no income tax at all, letting the top 4% of households pay over 50% of all tax dollars in the U.S. and who want everything the Have's have without having to work for it? If this type of talk is what your organization routelinely believes in, then it is not the organization I choose to be a member of
Recently (within the past two weeks) Media Matters addressed the false claims that 50% of Americans don't pay income tax. Since someone would have to have an Adjusted Gross Income of less than $3000 to avoid all federal income tax liability the figure is, on its face, absurd. Futhermore when you compare the income the top 4% richest households get to the TOTAL amount of taxes paid, or even just income taxes, it's difficult to have sympathy with them. They pay more per capita, but their income is even higher. Finally, the implied argument that they work harder is ridiculous when you look at the favorable tax treatment of capital gains, the repeal of inheritance taxes and the regressiveness of FICA and sales taxes.
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