[vaduz]

> Or are we seriously going to say slavery isn't a problem as long as as it isn't in our own backyard? So slavery in the 1800's was a problem but we can live with the fruits of modern day forced labor since we want our cheap iPhone?

Modern day forced labor is still allowed and utilised in the United Stated - it's mandatory for all able-bodied inmates in federal and most state prisons. For an additional kicker, US is also leading the world in both absolute and percentage of population measures of people incarcerated and has for decades.

The difference with what is happening in China is how targeted it is, what the conditions of labor are and how eager various US corporations are to directly use fruits of said labor - but it is just as immoral.

[koheripbal]

This is false. Work programs in US prisons are almost always voluntary. Only a few states have some limited Penal labor if it is added as part of the sentence by the court, but they are uncommon, and does not happen at the federal level at all.

Learning to work at a job, if done correctly, can be part of a constructive rehabilitation program. ...though I'm skeptical the degree to which that occurs.