Any data or studies to confirm this?

You are right this is not socialism but actually more like the Aristocratic system the French had before their revolution. Back then the poor had to support the rich by paying taxes to the local Aristocrat. Mafia protection money and payments to local warlords in Africa and Afghanistan are very similar.
Most won’t accept this but using prisoners as unpaid labor is a form of slavery.

Are the American people really going to let their hard won freedoms be taken away again without even a murmur.
It is so sad to see the mighty USA degenerate like this.

FOLLOW THE MONEY! This is neither socialism or capitalism. These kind of government tax policies are text book Fascism.

The workers are at zero risk on their taxes. Once taxes are withheld from your pay — unless you were participating in a fraud — the federal and state governments considered them paid.

@ NewsLady,

You misread my column; the companies keep the taxes for ten years, they do not give them back so long asa they meet the terms of the deal.

After ten years the normal flow of taxes to state government will resume.