SLAVERY in Florida -- disturbing story of homeless in forced labor camp

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN/AP:
Feds say homeless lured to Florida labor camp
Sunday, June 5, 2005

EAST PALATKA, Florida (AP) -- Federal agents raided a migrant farm labor camp where homeless men and women were kept in what labor officials called a version of modern-day slavery.

Four people, including the camp's owner, Ronald Evans, face federal charges in a case that officials said is likely to grow. Investigators are looking into alleged environmental violations and drugs found at the camp in Friday's raid.

"The word is out that we are concerned about human trafficking, and we will leave no stone or camp unturned," said Steve Cole, a spokesman for Jacksonville U.S. attorney Paul I. Perez.

Officials said homeless people were recruited to the Evans Labor Camp through offers of room and board, along with alcohol, tobacco and drugs, which they bought on credit. But they never made enough in the field to pay it off, according to an investigative summary.

"A lot of times, they get them indebted even before they get back to the camp," federal agent Rebecca Hall said....

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/06/05/labor.camp.ap/index.html

[iconoclastic cat]

1. That is absolutely nuts.

[acmavm]

2. This is nothing that hasn't been reported a hundred times before. And

there's going to be a lot more of it. In fact, what surprises me is that this camp is being investigated. Isn't this pretty much the scenario we're heading for now that corporate america has taken over our government?

[notadmblnd]

6. Sounds to me like it's going to become SOP

standard operating procedure. It's one of the neocons goals someone just got ahead of the schedule.

[Divernan]

3. Sounds like a Jeb Bush endorsed pilot program

You know, set it up in your state while you're governor and then you can force it on the whole country while you're president - like George's rotten education programs in Texas evolved in to No Child Left Behind.

[undergroundpanther]

4. Look at the future of America

Debt slavery..Being set up as we speak..


http://www.unknownnews.net/050607a-Panther.html

[Divernan]

5. Ultimate destination for fools who sign up for interest only mortgages

All these wannabe ultra-rich folks are taking out mortgages on MacMansions- where they pay only the interest for years, and in some cases, don't even pay all the interest, which means their outstanding principal debt keeps shooting up. They think that the housing bubble will keep expanding long enough and fast enough for them to sell at a profit or refinance using the increased value to bring the principal amt. down to where they can actually pay it off. However, when the housing bubble bursts, or they hit one of life's roadbumps, like catastrophic health problems, or lost jobs, or costly divorce. they will be down and out with no bankruptcy options. They may not end up in a Florida labor camp, but they'll be working all their lives to pay off their debts.

It used to be called serfdom.