Lincoln was a Republican

But it needs to be remembered that it was NOT a conservative Republican, but he was part of the "Radical Republicans", which were "Radical" because they were extremely liberal and the Radical Republicans stronghold was the liberal North East.

So yeah, Lincoln was a Republican, but Republicans back then are Democrats today.

And the Democrats back then, were the conservative party with their stronghold in the South.

Note, Lincoln was a moderate, you didn't really agree with either extreme.

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whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

Freeing the slaves was a pretty radical idea back then..😷

sstronaut

@whowasthatmaskedman True, but he only freed them in the states that fought against the Union. He didn't free them in all states.

At least not at first, I forget how the Northern Slave States (I think Maryland and what would later become West Virginia) how their slaves were freed.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@sstronaut If you want to get right into it, he hardly freed them at all. Just named them something else. These days they are called "Convicts" and work for cents an hour from the state on contracts..Sounds like slave labour to me.😷

sstronaut

@whowasthatmaskedman Yup, I believe some states have in their Constitution that prisoners are slaves.

13th Amendment Exception: The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, but it includes an exception for "punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted". This exception has been used to permit forced labor in prisons.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@sstronaut As long as there is a buck to be made, Americans will find a way..😷

sstronaut

@whowasthatmaskedman Um, no that wasn't about making money, in theory at least it was about teaching them skills so they wouldn't return to their evil deeds that got them in the first place.

They might even lose money some of the activities.

Where money becomes an issue is private prisons, which they have been caught in scams including paying judges per prisoner or worse, per child in juvenile detention...

Usually the actual work (at least modern day) is used as a reward system, if you're good, we'll let you do this different thing...

And they usually just hope to make enough to pay for their expenses to keep the program going.

But they got all types and a number of them are working with or training and helping animals.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@sstronaut Now i believe that you believe that. But there is a big difference between road repair and garbage clean up for the county. Or even working with firefighters or emergency services as part of rehabilitation and tendering for contracts for light manufacturing or even telemarketing, where the Prison competes against private enterprise for profit. As you note, this is a feature of the Private prison system. Something else I am dubious about..😷

sstronaut

@whowasthatmaskedman Not saying they don't or haven't, but I haven't heard of them being part of road repair.

Or being allowed to work with fire fighters or emergency services.

I'm not sure you're talking about America here, if they are allowed to do these things, I don't know about it.

In America, there are laws where (unless there is a loophole or emergency) the Government is not supposed to be competing with private business and I don't believe they use prisoners for those type things, at least not as far as I'm aware.

So I'm sure that happens, but I'm not sure that happens in America.

Usually it's road side clean up, or they used to make furniture, especially for the government, and cleaning their own government stuff.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@sstronaut I suggest you watch "Cool Hand Luke" 😷

sstronaut

@whowasthatmaskedman I could watch game of thrones as well, but that doesn't mean it's based in reality.

Especially when talking about reality of today.

whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M

@sstronaut Granted. It was just such a good scene..
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