Because slavery is horrendously inefficient nowadays? Folks running the prisons aren't making money from that. Offsetting the costs, somewhat, and (some farming prisons are) admittedly putting a lot of food out but that's not what's putting them in the black. Gives felons a sure-fire chance to contribute a little to the economy, though, since they're basically unhireable after getting
out of prison. I guess that's something?
Re: American culture; yeah, we've got some bits here and there that do alright. Wouldn't deny that. Compared to, say, Europe, though? Not a particularly fair comparison (Europe's been there a lot longer than the USA), but still. We've got jazz, some influential writers, some philosophers (most were European ex-pats, though), and plenty of plays. Then, uh, mostly hyperviolent media. I guess bread and circus counts as culture, in a sense, but it's not something I want my people to be remembered for
I keep forgetting who said it, but th'fellow that held that th'US was the first (maybe it was only? I don't remember the quote well) nation to go from barbarism to decadence with nothing in between feels pretty accurate, some days. Th'downing/irritation part is that the bright spots are almost unilaterally shoved out of public attention. We've got some damn impressive stuff, here and there, but the majority of the population doesn't seem to give two shits. S'saddening, yanno'? You hope for more from your nation.