Pioneers of Outsourcing and The Prison Complex

I am wondering if there is a relationship to stories I heard about prison labor in the 80’s and early 90’s and the outsourcing of American labor.

During that period, I recall an emotional story regarding an irate furniture maker who lost his bid to continue making furniture to a prison complex in his area.

The story went on registering the frustrations and anger of the furniture maker and his remorse having to let employees go and, most importantly, how many prisons used its inmates making things we Americans use in our daily lives i.e., automobile tags, furniture and articles of clothing. I recall some women inmates answering phone calls for businesses.

I do not know if a viable and lucrative prison labor force is still in existence and bringing in revenue. I do not know if those jobs were outsourced or put back in communities. I do recall hearing the prison complex had eliminated exercise rooms for inmates due to expenses.

There are no conclusions I can make, just a lot of things I recall as the Bain and  Mitt Romney saga  continues. 


As always,
BB