I came across something/someone... not even recalling if it was text or vid at this point... Anyway they listed a number of things currently made in prisons and the associated market shares. All military uniforms for instance, and much more day-to-day military equipment. The stereotypical example of license plates got mention as well.
It struck me that almost everything on the list was stuff that it would be politically prohibitive to defer to an offshore company. But were all items of the sort which in other circumstances often would be outsourced. I can't imagine folks tolerating contracts for Army uniforms being given to a sweatshop in Bangladesh. Or license plates being subcontracted to a firm in Mexico. Yet, these very same items are being produced by incarcerated individuals paid sweatshop wages here at home. A few dollars a day.
Perhaps a prison labor movement is needed to draw attention to this. In areas in which prison labor accounts for more than 50% of production strikes would be immensely powerful. And the situation lends itself to a strong 'two pronged' approach as well in that groups outside the prisons have direct economic interests involved as well. Having low wage prison workers suppresses jobs and deflates wages for those on the outside. And deprive external entrepreneurs and corporations an opportunity to freely get a share of the respective markets.
It may be effective to focus on motivating Americans to give more attention to our prisons through addressing the money issues first and foremost. Other moral concerns would piggy-back on such attention. Much simply by sharing the spotlight of increased focus and wider awareness.
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