In Maine, prisoners are thriving in remote jobs

On the one hand, prisoners being coerced to work is payment for their crimes. On the other hand, that job would have gone to someone else at market rates. This kind of thing drags down the market rates.

We really need to get rid of the exception in the 13th amendment.

>This kind of thing drags down the market rates.

Why would the prison / prisoner charge below market rates for their labor?

The prison could, for grift reasons. They can undercut competition because their costs are lower. If a union, or even a market-rate shop needs to pay, say, $20-hour for labor, and the prison can pay $1-hour (or day) they can charge much less, and then pocket the difference. Their advantage isn't a higher quality product just a cheaper one.