Bill Is Introduced To End Exemptions For Closed Workshops

http://harper.house.gov/press-release/harper-authors-bill-provide-fair-wages-disabled This is a rare occasion when I actually have praise for the actions of a Republican office holder. :) I have long been a foe of Goodwill Industries, stemming from my own experience having been sent there for evaluation, by the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. I actually consider them to be an example of modern day indentured servitude. And besides not paying much, if anything, they also lock the workers inside, while they're in operation. This is not only confining, but also potentionally dangerous, given what happened in this one case http://history1900s.about.com/od/1910s/p/trianglefire.htm, and also this http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/factory-workers-locked-flames-spread/story?id=17832077. So I feel that under equal protection of the law, such enterprises should not be permitted to be exempt any longer. America is supposed to guarantee liberty, and justice for all, regardless of social status, and/or special needs. I first read of the public awareness being raised about this issue in this article. http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/21/19062348-disabled-workers-paid-just-pennies-an-hour-and-its-legal?lite I wanted to address some of the comments made by some of the persons interviewed, First off, there are a number of people, not simply those whom are regarded as being disabled in some way, which is actually a broad category which would include neurodiverse persons such as myself, who have such conditions of a PDD http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/development-disorder, whom would be willing to work for free, in return for sustainance. However, as of yet, we do not live with a gift economy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_economy , where in there is no cost for anything, and Goodwill certainly is making substantial profits off of the products they sell, and the labor they exploit. If however you feel that a job well done should be it's own reward, then you are what's known as an anarcho-communist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarcho-communism. Now I have no quarrel with such people, but I think that Goodwill might take issue with it, and deny them the so called opportunity of fulfilling work, given this one case. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2002/07/can_your_boss_fire_you_for_your_political_beliefs.html Now some people might be thinking, even with all of this being said, that those with various special needs might be in need of vocational rehabilitation, in order to prepare them for the workforce. But who gets to decide who is qualified to be given gainful employment? I'd suppose that such businesses as Goodwill, who utilise such bond laborers will want to keep them for as long as they can get away with it. Unless the "client", as they call their wage slaves/indentured servants, happen to be older. Then they give them credits right off the bat. And furthermore, if such a program were required of every person, before they may seek employment in the job market, the people would regard it as being state sponsored bondage, like something out of Mao Zedong's China. And in response to such a policy, there would be a popular revolt, like perhaps with guns, and the like. So why expect others to do what you yourself would find to be intolerable? I do not feel that it's elitist to have self respect, and to demand to be treated fairly. Oh yeah, by the way, already in certain places those on welfare are being forced into unpaid labor, as my one British counterpart blogger posted about. http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.com/2012/08/is-workfare-slavery-tory.html, http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.com.es/2012/08/letter-fans-workfare-slavery-tory.html So these are all of the points I can think to make at this time. So I will close by expressing thanks to Rep. Gregg Harper, of Miss. I consider his action on this to be worthy of the historic political party of Abraham Lincoln. I just hope that it shall pass, and subsequently be signed by Pres. Obama. But I suppose that it will receive not only bipartisan support, but also bipartisan opposition. But at least it's a worthwhile try.