The use of legalistic loopholes, cultural relativism, or economic arguments to defend exploitative labor practices (prison labor, debt bondage, abusive migrant worker contracts). It claims these systems are "voluntary" contracts, "cultural norms," or necessary for competitiveness, sanitizing coercion with the language of choice and law.
Example: Defending a corporation's use of prison labor by saying, "It teaches skills and reduces recidivism," while ignoring the perverse incentive to incarcerate and the sub-poverty wages. The modern slavery rationalization rebrands forced, uncompensated labor as rehabilitation and a bargain for taxpayers.
by Abzugal February 8, 2026
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