What WON'T You Buy?

[CRaZy]

I can certainly empathise with your feelings on these things and we probably don't need some of those things.

However. I have one problem with it that leaves me torn. I believe our science and technology have made it possible for us to make man's lot better - we don't always do it, but even the poorest of us in modern civilisation is far more comfortable and healthy than the majority were a hundred years ago.

I cannot think of a time or a single invention which did not result in someone seeming to be exploited. The person with capital, says, "see here, i will buy the equipment, risk my money, if you will work for $ xx per hour." The deal is made. The worker so exploited begins, however slowly, to build up capital and he someday does the same thing for or to someone else. We inch up on being able to support more people on this lovely planet, even though sometimes we trample it badly.

The entire population of South Korea were once exploited by the Japanese who paid them low wages to make microwaves to sell to the goddam americans (who invented them and hired the japanese to produce them for low wages. Today, there is probably not a single microwave oven produced anyplace but in South Korea, by companies owned by South Koreans!

My problem is that the people making the Nikes may have no chance to find a decent living if I don't buy the shoes he makes! I notice that my wonderful New Balance Shoes, which I have bought largely because they were always made in the U.S., have a made in china label in them. Go Figure. Tempis Fugits, etc.

What do you think of that?

Unfortunately the game has changed. In their lust for profit the multinationals have become far less scrupulous than in the days when Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and the ilk were cheap offshore labour markets. The workers in Cambodia and Saipan actually have to PAY to get their jobs in the first place. The wages are so little and they are charged rent and other incidentals so it is YEARS before they actually earn a wage. Often, the job is just a way of staying off the street thus avoiding prostitution. There is little chance of the workers or their families accumulating capital.

Saipan in particular is interesting. A number of companies with factories there have just lost major court cases. Basically, they use imported Chinese slave labour (the girls pay up to US$5000 for the job because they think they are going to America). The manufacturers use "Made In America" labels. The only American thing about the products is that a quirk of history left a tiny island in the middle of nowhere under the American flag.

[Edited by CRaZy on 03-13-2001 at 01:30 AM]

 

[Charly]

I can certainly empathise with your feelings on these things and we probably don't need some of those things.

However. I have one problem with it that leaves me torn. I believe our science and technology have made it possible for us to make man's lot better - we don't always do it, but even the poorest of us in modern civilisation is far more comfortable and healthy than the majority were a hundred years ago.

I cannot think of a time or a single invention which did not result in someone seeming to be exploited. The person with capital, says, "see here, i will buy the equipment, risk my money, if you will work for $ xx per hour." The deal is made. The worker so exploited begins, however slowly, to build up capital and he someday does the same thing for or to someone else. We inch up on being able to support more people on this lovely planet, even though sometimes we trample it badly.

The entire population of South Korea were once exploited by the Japanese who paid them low wages to make microwaves to sell to the goddam americans (who invented them and hired the japanese to produce them for low wages. Today, there is probably not a single microwave oven produced anyplace but in South Korea, by companies owned by South Koreans!

My problem is that the people making the Nikes may have no chance to find a decent living if I don't buy the shoes he makes! I notice that my wonderful New Balance Shoes, which I have bought largely because they were always made in the U.S., have a made in china label in them. Go Figure. Tempis Fugits, etc.

What do you think of that?

Unfortunately the game has changed. In their lust for profit the multinationals have become far less scrupulous than in the days when Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and the ilk were cheap offshore labour markets. The workers in Cambodia and Saipan actually have to PAY to get their jobs in the first place. The wages are so little and they are charged rent and other incidentals so it is YEARS before they actually earn a wage. Often, the job is just a way of staying off the street thus avoiding prostitution. There is little chance of the workers or their families accumulating capital.

Saipan in particular is interesting. A number of companies with factories there have just lost major court cases. Basically, they use imported Chinese slave labour (the girls pay up to US$5000 for the job because they think they are going to America). The manufacturers use "Made In America" labels. The only American thing about the products is that a quirk of history left a tiny island in the middle of nowhere under the American flag.

[Edited by CRaZy on 03-13-2001 at 01:30 AM]

You make my point exactly. Each of those countries became more and more prosperous by their work - not just the multinationals who bought them tools! Then another country became the lower labor cost country and it will also be made well by the capital built up by their industry. That's why now most of the microwaves are made in Malaisia by those South Korean multinationals build up by the building of capital by those "slave" laborers. Everything is related and driven by people building up enough capital from their labor to provide tools which multiply their labor and the labor of others.

We have turned this wonderful simplicity to do good.

 

[Adoratrice]

Paul Newman products....it's just wrong.

What did Paul do wrong? I think he gives the proceeds to good causes does he not.

Sure he does....If you consider supporting cop killers a good cause.

Look it up , I won't go into the disgusting details here...too close to my heart.

 

[MysteryJKR]

I will NOT buy a legos set that has like a gajillion pieces and costs like almost 200 bucks. Even though legos are cool.

I will NOT buy real expensive clothing or foot wear just cuz there name brand or whatever the reason. They keep my feet dry, im happy.

I will NOT buy any of those wierd sexual type things, cards, calenders, items sold in Spencers Gifts, cuz well. just cuz. hehe.

 

[Isolde]

I wont pay the extra for name brands when the generic is just as good and I wont buy a movie unless I have seen it first and know its half way decent.

 

[Ajax]

A Yugo...don't think they make them anymore..

Maybe the worst car ever built--

 

[RudeNastyAssBitch]

Oh My God!!!

I only purchase things that make me happy, this usually means BARGAINSNEVER, would I buy something with a brand name on it *Yawns* I am WAY to cool as it is!

Anyway, just the other night I bought a pair of pleather pants for the Amazing Price of $2.99!!!
Then got home and showed my husband who said, "Where were they made?"

Gulp

"China" I said, Knowing that I could never again wear my Lovley Pleather pants *Sigh*

Or Perhaps I could find the poor, Probably chained to a sewing table person that sewed this particular pair of pants and bring them to live with me and make me pants for lottsa lottsa fine canadian dollars?

Or Perhaps not

Pantless In Toronto,
RNAB

 

[CRaZy]

I can certainly empathise with your feelings on these things and we probably don't need some of those things.

However. I have one problem with it that leaves me torn. I believe our science and technology have made it possible for us to make man's lot better - we don't always do it, but even the poorest of us in modern civilisation is far more comfortable and healthy than the majority were a hundred years ago.

I cannot think of a time or a single invention which did not result in someone seeming to be exploited. The person with capital, says, "see here, i will buy the equipment, risk my money, if you will work for $ xx per hour." The deal is made. The worker so exploited begins, however slowly, to build up capital and he someday does the same thing for or to someone else. We inch up on being able to support more people on this lovely planet, even though sometimes we trample it badly.

The entire population of South Korea were once exploited by the Japanese who paid them low wages to make microwaves to sell to the goddam americans (who invented them and hired the japanese to produce them for low wages. Today, there is probably not a single microwave oven produced anyplace but in South Korea, by companies owned by South Koreans!

My problem is that the people making the Nikes may have no chance to find a decent living if I don't buy the shoes he makes! I notice that my wonderful New Balance Shoes, which I have bought largely because they were always made in the U.S., have a made in china label in them. Go Figure. Tempis Fugits, etc.

What do you think of that?

Unfortunately the game has changed. In their lust for profit the multinationals have become far less scrupulous than in the days when Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and the ilk were cheap offshore labour markets. The workers in Cambodia and Saipan actually have to PAY to get their jobs in the first place. The wages are so little and they are charged rent and other incidentals so it is YEARS before they actually earn a wage. Often, the job is just a way of staying off the street thus avoiding prostitution. There is little chance of the workers or their families accumulating capital.

Saipan in particular is interesting. A number of companies with factories there have just lost major court cases. Basically, they use imported Chinese slave labour (the girls pay up to US$5000 for the job because they think they are going to America). The manufacturers use "Made In America" labels. The only American thing about the products is that a quirk of history left a tiny island in the middle of nowhere under the American flag.

[Edited by CRaZy on 03-13-2001 at 01:30 AM]

You make my point exactly. Each of those countries became more and more prosperous by their work - not just the multinationals who bought them tools! Then another country became the lower labor cost country and it will also be made well by the capital built up by their industry. That's why now most of the microwaves are made in Malaisia by those South Korean multinationals build up by the building of capital by those "slave" laborers. Everything is related and driven by people building up enough capital from their labor to provide tools which multiply their labor and the labor of others.

We have turned this wonderful simplicity to do good.

You didn't read my post properly. The people in those slave labour countries at the bottom of the present heap ARE NOT ACCUMULATING ANY CAPITAL OR ANYTHING ELSE. You can't accumulate capital when you are paying back the money you paid TO GET THE JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE. The economies of Malaysia, Cambodia, Morocco, etc. ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. THE PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING PAID. Don't get me started on the oil companies. LOL. Ummmm...curiousity? You ever seen a sweat shop?

 

[Flagg]

I think we should maybe rethink the rules regarding the "quote" button.

 

[Ally C]

I think we should maybe rethink the rules regarding the "quote" button.

I thought that when I passed through this thread earlier Flagg. It makes sense to abridge any quotes: just select a sentence or short passage which embodies what you are replying to, or what you are directly referring to. In most cases we'll have read the quote anyway in its original post. I came across one post which consisted entirely of a very large quote from someone else in the same thread. No point in this whatsoever. It just clutters up the thread, and isn't conducive to other's reading enjoyment.

The guidelines for story writing here are helpful in a generalistic way: not having massive chunks of text that put off readers etc. That's probably a poor example ... a basic grasp of written English will suffice. For those who are about to post I salute you. We may not agree with each other, so I guess my answer to this thread would be:

I won't buy your argument if it lacks any thought and effort on your part.

 

[CRaZy]

Sobs and decides never to post using a quote again. Don't want to upset the thread length control Gods. Sob.

 

[Ally C]

There, there, CRaZy, nothing personal ... but I'm sure you'll agree it's a practical suggestion? I wasn't trying to dictate how you or anyone else should reply. Think of it as being an aesthetic answer too - but not in a fetishistic way.

 

[CRaZy]

sometimes

 

[CRaZy]

I

 

[CRaZy]

just

 

[CRaZy]

don't

 

[CRaZy]

have

 

[CRaZy]

any

 

[CRaZy]

bloody

 

[CRaZy]

time

 

[CRaZy]

to

 

[CRaZy]

edit

 

[CRaZy]

quotes

 

[CRaZy]

LOL

 

[Flagg]

Sometimes I don't have the bloody time to scroll through quote of quote of quote of quote of quote.

- Thread Length God -