*80s'
indomara
joined 1 year ago
Yup. I hope they make it through this.
80's, female, born in the US and now (thankfully) an AU citizen.
I agree. Slavery was never really stopped. Big brands like McDonalds use convict labour. Some states will lease a slave/convict to private citizens for things like yard work.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penal_labor_in_the_United_States#Modern_prison_labor_systems
It's bad.
Alabama: Inmates that refuse to labor face a range of consequences, including solitary confinement and extensions of their sentences.
Florida: Inmates in Florida are forced to perform labor, often under threat of solitary confinement and beatings. These inmates are not paid for the labor they’re made to perform, and unsatisfactory performance can also lead to solitary confinement. In one instance, a prisoner working as a barber was sent to solitary for dropping a hair clipper, while in another, a woman who suffered a breakdown and refused to clean a set of toilets was beaten to the point of full body paralysis.
Louisiana: Refusal to work can be met with solitary confinement and physical beatings.
New York: The jobs inmates are mandated to work range from mundane ones such as tailoring and taxi driving, to more hazardous ones as lead paint and asbestos removal. Inadequate work and/or refusal to work can be punished with beatings.
I read every line and looked at every picture. I feel we owe it to them, to at least look at their faces and read their stories.
They were so happy and beautiful. Clearly very loved.
I'm from Australia, that looks like a huntsman.
When I first moved here and saw one I freaked out and begged my husband to catch it. He laughed and said they are good spiders, and very fast so hard to catch anyway.
That spider lived above the window blinds, and I realised I would have to sweep the dead bugs off the windowsill every few days.
He definitely became an honoured guest!
It's beautiful! The post isn't public on imgur or I would upvote you there too!
I agree, losing it would feel like losing the library of Alexandria. We do need more doing this!
Beautifully written.
Signed, another 40 year old millennial.
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I am originally from the US but moved to AU and am now a citizen. I got lucky and got out just before Trump's first presidency.
Life here is good. Like, better than most Americans can really understand. Healthcare is free, education is good and includes topics like critical thinking and understanding how to spot "fake news".
There is only a small aisle of frozen food in the grocery store, not nearly as much pre-packaged food. There are affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, and outside most grocery stores is an independent baker, butcher, fishmonger, and fruit and veg stand.
Minimum wage is $24.10 an hour, and you cannot be fired for no reason if you are a full time employee.
If you compare things (and adjust for AUD to USD) like rent, gas, milk, bread, eggs... Things cost about the same here as in the US.
We pay around the same amount in taxes, and get so much more.
Things aren't completely rosy, distressingly, Australia seems to want to emulate the US in certain ways which worries me.
There is also currently a bit of an economic downturn and while it's nothing like what I left behind, it does mean things cost more and luxuries have to be budgeted for.
I think anyone who isn't a dick would be welcome here. There are racist cunts here like everywhere, but generally Aussies are the kindest and most welcoming people.