General Discussion

Journeyman

(15,490 posts)

10. Unfortunately, to get "American Made" military gear, it seems it must be produced by prison labor...

Reply to The Straight Story (Original post)

Thu Jul 4, 2013, 02:53 PM

Jul 2013

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023162083

The industry that takes the cake when it comes to prison labor is military supplies.

It is estimated that the federal prison industry produces 100 percent of all military helmets, ID tags, bullet proof vests, canteens, night-vision goggles, ammunition belts, tents, shirts, bags and pants.

And what company is there to oversee production of all these items? UNICOR.

UNICOR was previously known as Federal Prison Industries, which is a for-profit organization, and the 39th largest U.S. contractor. It operates 110 factories at 79 federal penitentiaries and the Department of Defense is one of their largest contracts. In 2001, UNICOR sales were $583.5 million — about $388 million of which was to DOD or 66.5 percent of all business.

With wages as low as $0.23 per hour and no unions, safety regulations, pension, social security, sick leave nor overtime, prison labor is a growing and economically competitive sector. Prison labor is competitive with sweatshop labor prices and, since production is domestic, incurs lower shipping costs. Plus, overhead is pretty much paid for by U.S. taxpayers. With all these economic incentives, it’s no surprise that 37 states have legalized the contracting of prison labor by private corporations who bring their operations inside prison walls.

http://thecontributor.com/prison-labor-new-slave-labor

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Highlight:

U.S. Airman Got the Boot for Pointing Out that his Boots Were Made in China [View all] The Straight Story Jul 2013 OP

Wow...all this coming out of Hawaii people. Adachi, Snowden!!! dkf Jul 2013 #1

Tying this to Obama is just a bit much Fumesucker Jul 2013 #3

No I'm talking about Hawaii people in general. dkf Jul 2013 #5

Most conservadems are disappointed. geek tragedy Jul 2013 #9

anti-immigrant or pro-wage supression/anti-american worker? i get all confuzled! galileoreloaded Jul 2013 #16

Good god. That's not safe. Ed Suspicious Jul 2013 #25

I think you might be labeling the wrong group as "conservadems." I find the people eager to acquiesce Ed Suspicious Jul 2013 #24

Ah. You mean all the survellience programs chEney dick and r0ve the sewer rat started geckosfeet Jul 2013 #28

Continued and expanded by Obama. dkf Jul 2013 #30

Expanded under President Obama, not by Obama. geckosfeet Jul 2013 #43

Then maybe you need to reign them back in. Or cut them off. dkf Jul 2013 #44

Of course. But thats when repubs start screaming about cuts to national defense geckosfeet Jul 2013 #51

We all knew he was a conservative Dem with a touch of authoritarian mixed in. alfredo Jul 2013 #40

OMG, that is an oldie! :) nt Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #72

I liked them until my mother said she liked them ;) alfredo Jul 2013 #75

Speaking as a Hawaiian atreides1 Jul 2013 #77

I'll claim him. :) dkf Jul 2013 #78

You never miss an opportunity to attack Obama, even when the subject has no relation to him. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #17

Another anti-Obama post from you. Yawn. nt okaawhatever Jul 2013 #27

That's about the poorest attempt at conflation I've seen here in a while. bluedigger Jul 2013 #35

The story is unclear as to his actual actions - hedgehog Jul 2013 #2

sorry. but I can't support him, however patriotic his intention is. World trade is a fact of life.. JackN415 Jul 2013 #4

Yay, neoliberalism. World trade and the invisible hand of the market is a force of god, unstoppable Ed Suspicious Jul 2013 #26

World trade may be a fact of life..but not in military uniforms. James48 Jul 2013 #29

+1 BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #55

I purchased some USA made work boot for a home project. I owned a pair of boots bluestate10 Jul 2013 #34

it's not so simple. Consider this:.. JackN415 Jul 2013 #42

sorry my post was to reply the other and I made mistake replying to you. :) I agree with ur post JackN415 Jul 2013 #45

You characterize our commerce relationship with China brentspeak Jul 2013 #67

It is trade as long as Americans buy products that come from China. bluestate10 Jul 2013 #79

You don't understand the definition of "trade" brentspeak Jul 2013 #84

That's a lot of fussing over a pair of boots. Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #6

Why are all the BOrG on this thread now defending Chinese made goods for our service people? BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #56

You are absolutely correct! Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #59

Or stand up for the country, people and their jobs BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #61

LOL! That's a joke, right? Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #63

I wish more people would read this thread BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #64

I didn't call you a socialist, just your response. Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #65

I have no problem being called a socialist BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #66

That, my friend, is irony on a cracker. Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #69

"socialist horse$hit" brentspeak Jul 2013 #68

Fresh off the jury, in for the attack! Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #70

Nailed it BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #82

Congress has let him down itsrobert Jul 2013 #7

"It was impossible to get U.S.-made boots." Brickbat Jul 2013 #8

The problem is volume based. USA made boots will cost more, even if chinese workers bluestate10 Jul 2013 #39

Your post is disingenuous at best. BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #57

You do realize that SLAVE LABOR has a specific definition that does not apply here. Buzz Clik Jul 2013 #71

The entire military could be shoed and that would be a fraction of what a chinese factory bluestate10 Jul 2013 #80

Seriously: what are you talking about? BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #83

The entire military could be shoed and that would be a fraction of what a chinese factory bluestate10 Jul 2013 #81

Unfortunately, to get "American Made" military gear, it seems it must be produced by prison labor... Journeyman Jul 2013 #10

It's my understanding Firefighter Gear is made there too... nt AnotherDreamWeaver Jul 2013 #13

Prison labor is the only way that USA manufacturers can sell military gear to the bluestate10 Jul 2013 #41

Bullshit. intheflow Jul 2013 #60

32 years in the military onethatcares Jul 2013 #11

I believe there is Duckwraps Jul 2013 #14

Two sarge43 Jul 2013 #21

Well in the Army Duckwraps Jul 2013 #33

Using the pay grades is always a good idea, even within the tribe sarge43 Jul 2013 #36

Yep. Duckwraps Jul 2013 #53

As you point out, an E-9 in the Army is a Sergeant Major. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #54

He's a reservist Lurks Often Jul 2013 #18

My Pop was a master sergeant. He was a great man. Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #73

Interesting. enlightenment Jul 2013 #12

Sounds to me exactly like the chumps who didn't follow Progressive dog Jul 2013 #15

Who fucking cares where your boots were made!? Rex Jul 2013 #19

My Read allinthegame Jul 2013 #20

^^This!^^ BrotherIvan Jul 2013 #62

hey master sergeant, put on the fucking boots and DEPLOY TO THE GHANI pasto76 Jul 2013 #22

the law requires USA made. James48 Jul 2013 #31

I didn't know this. But even so, there is absurdity in such law. What is the definition of "made in" JackN415 Jul 2013 #46

Didn't research the story I see tkmorris Jul 2013 #37

kr. good for him. people should be asking these questions and making these points in every HiPointDem Jul 2013 #23

Spare me the outrage. If the military purchased USA made boots, clothing and blankets for bluestate10 Jul 2013 #47

no, people of *my* ilk would not. HiPointDem Jul 2013 #48

I buy my shoes from Sears mostly, and i believe pretty much everything i own darkangel218 Jul 2013 #32

30 years of outsourcing has brought it to this. Initech Jul 2013 #38

Maybe he should spend a little more time protesting against the unethical war in Afghanistan... Gravitycollapse Jul 2013 #49

You mean, "Master Sergeant in trouble for missing a movement"? Recursion Jul 2013 #50

He received a reprimand stemming giftedgirl77 Jul 2013 #52

Is this a new development? Revanchist Jul 2013 #58

When I was in the military, I bought my own commercially made boots Major Nikon Jul 2013 #74

wow. I hope he keeps his job Liberal_in_LA Jul 2013 #76