Samourai Letter #2: Notes From The Inside

The author, Keonne Rodriguez, writing from FPC Morgantown, describes the internal shadow economy where pouches of mackerel ("Macks") serve as the primary currency, known as "The Mack Standard." This system arises due to the limitations of the official "white market," which includes suppressed wages ($0.20 to $1.00 per hour), a $360 monthly spending cap at the commissary, and artificial limits on purchasing certain items like tuna or stamps. The mackerel is not eaten because it is often old and spoiled, giving it no intrinsic value beyond its agreed-upon worth of roughly $1.00. The grey market facilitates services like laundry, food preparation (Uber Eats equivalent), and gambling, all paid for in Macks. Prisoners with outside financial support may use Macks to bypass spending limits or minimize taxable income on their books. The letter concludes by noting that the reason Mackerel was chosen over other items like stamps is likely because there are no purchase limits on mackerel pouches, allowing them to circulate freely, unlike most other commissary items. The author reflects on human adaptability and the shared 'us versus them' mentality between prisoners and guards.

(Source：Bitcoin Magazine)