The Practical Libertarian knows that a reduction in governance is only as effective as the populace's ability to be self-sufficient. This is why it is the role of taxes is to encourage self-sufficiency in the form that deductions encourage the lower classes to invest in themselves and the upper classes to invest in the things that the lower classes cannot afford.
But there is also one government agency which can achieve self-sufficiency without reliance on outside assistance: the prison system.
The Practical Libertarian realizes that prisons are full of potential workers who don't require minimum wage since they should be paying for their room and board. It is a win-win situation in the making. Just as the plantation system worked because of the use of slaves, the prison system can use free labor to supply itself with what it needs, and maybe even make a profit. And in the process, they'll be teaching prisoners valuable skills that they can take away when they get out of jail.
These programs already exist, but they are vastly under-scaled. You know that prisoners make the license plates and train puppies to be guide dogs and in some areas work small farms to suppliment their diet. There are also work programs where they leave the prison to pick up trash on the highways and mow public spaces. All of these are great, but they could easily be expanded to include everyone, for more hours of the day. Even the most violent criminals could be given access to a plot of garden to weed and water while still being separated from their fellows. No one should spend 23 hours a day locked in a 3x5 cell, only allowed outside for 45 minutes of excercise and a 15 minute shower. And a garden is one manufacturing job that doesn't involve a group of people.
And whatever the prison manufactures over the amount that they need can be sold to pay for guards, electricity, and every other expense.While there will be some necessary initial investment, it would be worth it.
But there is also one government agency which can achieve self-sufficiency without reliance on outside assistance: the prison system.
The Practical Libertarian realizes that prisons are full of potential workers who don't require minimum wage since they should be paying for their room and board. It is a win-win situation in the making. Just as the plantation system worked because of the use of slaves, the prison system can use free labor to supply itself with what it needs, and maybe even make a profit. And in the process, they'll be teaching prisoners valuable skills that they can take away when they get out of jail.
These programs already exist, but they are vastly under-scaled. You know that prisoners make the license plates and train puppies to be guide dogs and in some areas work small farms to suppliment their diet. There are also work programs where they leave the prison to pick up trash on the highways and mow public spaces. All of these are great, but they could easily be expanded to include everyone, for more hours of the day. Even the most violent criminals could be given access to a plot of garden to weed and water while still being separated from their fellows. No one should spend 23 hours a day locked in a 3x5 cell, only allowed outside for 45 minutes of excercise and a 15 minute shower. And a garden is one manufacturing job that doesn't involve a group of people.
And whatever the prison manufactures over the amount that they need can be sold to pay for guards, electricity, and every other expense.While there will be some necessary initial investment, it would be worth it.
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