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Re: "Made in "Chaiwan!"

To: DANMAS@aol.com
Subject: Re: "Made in "Chaiwan!"
From: Geoff Love <engconn@infi.net>
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 1997 08:37:47 -0500
DANMAS@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Re: "Made in "Chaiwan!"
> 
> Nick D. Benson wrote
> 
> "And "getting it right" means more than the how the part performs.
> It means a reasonable wage, (more than a dollar per hour), it
> means safety standards for workers, reasonable working
> conditions, health coverage, workers' compensation, etc, etc.
> 
> Show me that these benefits exist in Mexico or Asia, and I'll start
> to buy "stuff" made there.
> 
> Now do you all get it?"
> 
> Geoff Love wrote:
> 
> "Oh Yes...  If ever you go to buy an Indian carpet or rug, just think
> about the six years olds who work 16 hours a day to weave them. Now,
> would anyone like to start discussing de Beers?!!!
> 
> I could go on but I think I've blown my stack enough."
> 
> Excuse me, but how does our refusal to buy from these countries help the
> workers there obtain the benefits you spoke of? If they don't have a job,
> they sure as hell can't have safety standards, health coverage, workers comp,
> etc. And the six year old working 16 hours a day - does he and his family go
> hungry if he doesn't work?
> 
> I'm sorry, Nick, but I don't get it. I personally would like to see everyone
> in the world enjoy the standard of living we enjoy here in America, yet I
> firmly
> believe in "America First" if we have to make a choice. Do we have to make a
> choice?
> Even if the conditions in the third world countries aren't as good as here,
> isn't
> the first step to improve their economic conditions by providing jobs? Once
> the jobs
> are there, then they can take the steps we took here, with unions,
> legislation, etc.
> 
> My only objection to buying overseas, other than quality, would be the
> concern
> that jobs are being lost here. If they are not being lost here, then it seems
> to
> me buying from these countries would benefit the world as a whole.
> 
> Yes Geoff, thinking about six year old working 16 hour days makes me blow my
> stack too,
> but I fail to see how killing the economy in these countries by refusing to
> buy from
> them can help the working people there.
> 
> I don't have the answers, but I don't think a boycott is appropriate. Surely,
> there
> must be a better way.
> 
> Dan Masters

Yes, Everything you say is 100% right also.  If the 6 years olds didn't
work, they would starve.  Which is better?  If I were one of the 6 years
old I would prefer to work rather than starve.  I don't know the answer,
and I am certain the politicians don't either.  I am afraid the human
copulation explosion is rapidly catching up with us.

Geoff Love.

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