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Comment by malandrew | Hacker News Reader

> they would quit

Most prisons exist in places that are economically depressed with few if any other jobs. In some cases, the entire existence of a town revolves around the prison. Quitting is hardly an option when it’s the only real option for putting food on your table and a shelter over your head.

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They could leave town. There's always another option.

You need to be able to save up enough for a rent deposit (often 2-3 months of rent), afford moving costs, coordinate support for kids if you're moving away from existing support (other family/friend/etc), and deal with a lot of stress of moving out of town. If you have something better you're moving to, but that's often hard for people to coordinate. Spending all that to go get a similar pay job, perhaps in same industry, on the hope/chance that you'll be around more/better opportunities... it's a hard call for many folks to do, assuming they can even think that far ahead or strategically. Many folks are likely more consumed with day to day (especially if they've got kids).

> ... deal with a lot of stress ... have something better you're moving to ...

Thus the ethical argument. They'd rather keep doing what they're doing than pick the stress and uncertainty of moving.

I get the spirit of this; but if I can’t say that to people making poverty wages and being trapped, I can’t say they to prison guards, either.

Collectively and individually, the United States must “be better”, though.

> if I can’t say that to people making poverty wages and being trapped, I can’t say they to prison guards, either

Indeed. I think the same for everyone. Poverty is not an excuse for brutality.

Agreed. I wasn't trying to excuse brutality, I don't think. I definitely need to spend more time on this series of thought about what maybe I would do in the circumstance - or what I should expect myself to do to live up to my own standard.

I suspect humans are far more malleable than they realize, and personalities change quickly with different contexts. For example, I am sure many Ukrainians who are now enlisting would have said they'd never kill another human.

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