Any billionaire is free to step in and properly compensate these heroes, but they won’t

Under most circumstances this seems like one of the less dystopian options*... because at least on the surface, this is a genuine everybody-problem and not something that drives profit.

Particularly if this actually gives them a career post-release, which seems to be the case in California for at least 4 years now. The alternative is dystopic again.

If this response is more pressured just because of where/who it effects, I could see that being an issue too. The context already dystopic though... like aside from the long-term heat and drought that will continue to be ignored, there was also the profit-over-safety of the PG&E hooks (from another article: PG&E knew old power line parts had ‘severe wear’ months before deadly Camp Fire).

*= Which is probably saying a lot, given that it involves an inferno. And yeah that pay is not great, but what they're being charged daily is likely even worse.

Also, many of them are ineligible to become actual firefighters after their release from prison due to their criminal record. I would be slightly more okay with this system if it translated into a guaranteed position as a firefighter following release if they agree to go to an area in need like in smaller communities that have trouble recruiting firefighters.

I don't think we have chain gang type prison programs in Canada. It's so archaic. Making license plates to have an occupation might be reasonable, but this chain gang shit is inhumane.

Isn't there an amendment about this? We had that whole interval railway war over capitalism under the guise of fighting for that amendment?

If someone lands on your property, you don't get paid if you are in prison. Though if the board is loaded up with hotels on orange and the other players aren't near your properties, you can stay in for a bit rolling doubles to avoid going broke.

To play devil's advocate, and out of blind ignorancr, what's the alternative? Do nothing? Conscript the public?

Fire Country

Yes, that is a TV show.