Georgia Considers Replacing Firefighters With Free Prison Laborers

[midnight]

"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’s expected to save the county a bundle:
A select group of inmates may be exchanging their prison jumpsuits for firefighting gear in Camden County.
The inmates-to-firefighters program is one of several money-saving options the Board of County Commissioners is looking into to stop residents’ fire insurance costs from more than doubling. <...> The inmate firefighter program would be the most cost-effective choice, saving the county more than $500,000 a year by some estimates. But that option is already controversial, drawing criticism from the firefighters who would have to work alongside – and supervise – the prisoners.
The Camden program would put two inmates in each of three existing firehouses, and they would respond to all emergencies – including residential – alongside traditional firefighters. The inmates would have no guard, but would be monitored by a surveillance system and by the traditional firefighters, who would undergo training to guard the inmates."http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/10/11/340328/georgia-considers-replacing-firefighters-with-free-prison-laborers/



Now we know why they are destroying the unions... They are going to be giving union jobs to prison slaves.... Payed Fire fighters would be fired. Free prison labor would enable the prisoners once they are released from prison the ability to get paid... So the law abiding fire fighters will have to go to prison to get a job.... This makes no sense...

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I don't know about you, but I don't really want to be rescued by a prisoner.

[SharonAnn]

18. Right. What could possibly go wrong? They'd risk their lives for us, right?

[MichiganVote]

2. People in prison get three squares a day, a bed and now a job?

What's next? Somebody's foreclosed house?

[midnight]

6. No, but your close... The Wall Street criminals have the gumption to suggest that the rich be

allowed to buy those up....

[MichiganVote]

7. OMG they have to buy them? Don't we just want to give them to the poor babies?

How are they going to make ends meet?

[Lint Head]

3. Nothing like that good old American slave labor!

Ever seen Deliverance? Heard Dueling Banjos?

Cool Hand Luke?

There are actually two close variants of the line that are spoken at different points in the film. Nuances of accent, delivery, and intonation aside, they are as follows:

"What we've got here is... failure to communicate." — spoken by The Captain, the imperious prison warden played by Strother Martin
"What we've got here is a failure to communicate." — spoken by Luke, the reprobate inmate played by Paul Newman near the film's climax
Wikipedia

I just hope that boy in jail for smoking a J doesn't die in a fire.

[mysuzuki2]

5. lets see now; people with generally low academic achievement - check,

proven history of unwillingness to obey societal rules - check, high probability of mental illness and/or substance abuse - check, no experience and probably limited training in firefighting to be given - check! What could possibly go wrong?

[NICO9000]

4. He was today's worst person

And boy did he earn it. ASSHOLE!

[999998th word]

11. Assholes serve a purpose.I'm thinking 'infected boil'.

People NEED to wise up-and QUICK.

[Puzzler]

8. "Free prison laborers" = slaves

[Zoeisright]

9. Typical repuke.

Stupid, lazy, entitled, smug, and with absolutely no foresight. I hope this bastard needs to be rescued by one of those inmates and then gets into a hell of a lot of trouble.

[libinnyandia]

10. If firefighters, why not police officers?

Where would it end?

[GTurck]

12. OMG...

My husband was a volunteer fireman for many years as well as an EMT. A friend of ours is a retired professional firefighter. (Difference is pay and size of community). They would freak over this if it were made into reality. Firefighting is for those who are willing and trained to lay their lives on the line; as are police. To use prisoners as slave firefighters sounds too much like the days of Imperial Rome when they had just such an institution. Basically saying that human lives are worth nothing to the powers that be.:evilfrown:

[pscot]

17. A+

I salute you for dragging Imperial Rome, kicking and screaming, into a thread about the political follies of GOP councilmen in Camden county, Georgia. Well done.

:hi:

[queenjane]

13. Better idea: Replace the GA politicians with prisoners

I'm sure the prisoners could do THOSE jobs better . . .

[JNinWB]

16. Best suggestion of the day!

[fasttense]

14. Right, like a prisoner would run into burning buildings to save

a total stranger. Do they actually believe a slave, I mean a prisoner, would do that? They would probably have to chain them up and drag the prisoners into the burning building. But then of what use would they be? You can't force people with little to no training to accomplish complex, dangerous task for little to no reward and expect a positive outcome.

A prisoner would more likely stand outside and watch the fire. I know if I were forced to be a slave, I mean a prisoner firefighter, I would never run into burning building no matter how much they don't pay me, no matter how much they claim they will cut my sentence. I would never risk my life for a society that put me in jail. I just wouldn't do it.

I admire those brave men and women who are firefighters, but it is not an occupation that attracts everyone or that can be done by everyone. It is a complex, detailed, technology specific and very, very dangerous occupation.

Next up, Camden County, Georgia proposes prison labor be used to replace police.

[malthaussen]

15. This Would be Ingenious

If they made sure the prisoners were given the training that the "free" firefighters received. It would be like vocational training in a useful occupation (that cannot be outsourced) for people who are on the short end of society's stick.

Of course, they won't do this, and it is just another grandstand play by a brain-dead politician. And who would like to bet that the supposed "savings" will be eaten up in "administrative costs" or some other such black hole? If implemented, it will no doubt end up costing the taxpayers more than the present system.

-- Mal