This is nearly impossible to write. Currently, the law in Arkansas requires a child under 16 who wants to work to sign a proof of age form, a description of the work to determine its danger, the schedule, and the child’s parents’ consent. Sarah Huckabee-Sanders, or – as I shall always reference her, “Sarah Huck,” decided these laws, put in specifically because children were being abused, constrained “parental’ rights,” saying nothing about the rights of children. This isn’t some proposal. It’s passed the legislature and awaits Sarah’s signature, which is coming.
From Rawstory:
A proposed Arkansas law that would remove the requirement for children under 16 to prove their age to get a job will head to Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ desk for approval. Employment certificates currently require proof of the child’s age, a description of the work and work schedule, and a parent or legal guardian’s written consent.
Eliminating this requirement would “restore decision-making to parents concerning their children,” the bill states. Opponents of House Bill 1410 have expressed concerns it will open the door to violations of these child labor requirements and put children at risk of human trafficking.
No, it would not, and everyone reading this recognizes the problem that jumps off the page. Abusive parents could sign for a 12 or 13-year-old that looks a little older (or not). Furthermore, the lack of a job description or schedule takes away parental freedom in that a kid can say, “I’m working at McDonald’s,” not knowing that the child will be working alone or with another child, after hours, from 10:00 p.m. to midnight, cleaning dangerous equipment with toxic chemicals, requiring the child to use a foot ladder or a real ladder, versus what the parents think. They imagine their 15-year-old smiling and taking your order. I am sure that you can come up with worse. Last, of course, there are poor and abusive parents out there that wouldn’t care. They want part of the money. There will be no record of it with the state.
This is called rejecting anything “woke.” Making Arkansas “free again,” free for child labor. The second biggest company in Arkansas is Tyson Chicken. Have you ever seen the inside of a chicken plant? Highly dangerous, low-paying jobs…
I see the party of family values has opened up the labor market for children like it’s 1910 again in Arkansas. This is backward, even for Arkansas. https://t.co/9EoNfyGKRn
— Charlie Fox (@seafocks) March 5, 2023
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[email protected], @JasonMiciak, SUBSTACK: MUCH LEFT ADO, DOZENS OF CURRENT TOPICS
When you think about it this is Hucksterbee and Arkansas at the vanguard of a key portion of Republican PROJECTION. I’m talking about all their bullshit about ‘grooming” and in THIS case bringing back the ability to exploit child labor is their way of GROOMING kids for the life they intend to inflict on those kids once they are adults. A life where workers will have no rights, no safety standards, maybe even back to living in company towns and being issued Scrip instead of actual money. I can hear Tennessee Ernie Ford singing the song Sixteen Tons all over again.
I remember hearing that song as a youngster, and asking my Mom what it meant. She explained it to me, and considering that my parents, grandparents, and a slew of other family members deep in the hills of West Virginia were coal miners, the explanation was frightening to me, even at my young age. (old lady now, 75, lol.)
A cross eyed nazi from bumfuck holler, born into wealth and status, who wants to exploit children. Shocked!
Sarin Huckleberry (as in female hound) Slanders – any of those would suit