Would you pay more?

Deut. 32.8 said:

"12cents and hour"? :jiggy:

... back to the topic.

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In an attempt to keep the whale thread on topic, I'm starting a new one.


I saw that program as well...and I know they said something like 17 cents an hour with a work day that started at 8 a.m. and *might* finish at 10 p.m....sometimes 2 a.m. Many workers slept at their machines rather than waste time going home since they had to be back at 8 a.m. The woman was in tears when they brought her here and showed her what they were selling the finished product for. And this woman was considered highly paid! Most don't earn that much.

It was even sadder when they asked a Wal-mart customer if she'd pay 50 cents more for the pants if she knew that this woman could double her income and the woman said no. She felt sorry for her but hey "it's what it is". Makes me wish reincarnation was real and she was coming back as an Indian woman in the slums of Calcutta.

Thank you Melody, I was getting ready to do the same thing. That was a very eye opening program, it really put some things in perspective for me.

yes..

I remember talking to a lorry driver on the ferry from Spain back to England, acouple of years ago. I'll chat with anyone, I guess it's 50% being nosey and 50% just plain enjoying to meet new people! I was asking him what he was carrying; he told me he was carrying clothing for Marks and Spencer (used to be a VERY respectable chain of shops renowned for quality clothes - a bit on the pricey side, but worth paying the extra for).

He said to me "You know, this world is mad," I asked him what he meant;

I can't remember the actual figures - but you'll get the idea. Denim was brought in China, shipped to Pakistan, where it was prepared roughly and then shipped to Poland, where the buttons were sown on, the finishing touches added, and the famous 'Marks and Spencer' label was sown in. The last leg of the journey was his, bringing an enormous lorry full of the finished product for distribution in the UK.

The material left China worth 2 cents (for 1 Pair) it then left Pakistan worth say -10 cents, went to poland, and came out of Poland, ready for the market here, value $2, it came in and was sent out to the branches, put on the rails for $95.

I know I am naive, but I felt sickened.I have told friends, and see them coming out of the local store with a bagful of clothes...........

michel said:

The material left China worth 2 cents (for 1 Pair) it then left Pakistan worth say -10 cents, went to poland, and came out of Poland, ready for the market here, value $2, it came in and was sent out to the branches, put on the rails for $95.

I know I am naive, but I felt sickened.I have told friends, and see them coming out of the local store with a bagful of clothes...........

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One of the sweatshop owners in India said that they asked Wal-mart for 1 penny more so they could their workers more (don't know how true that is) and Wal-mart supposedly told them they were going to pay 2 pennies less. The owner said they had to take it or Wal-mart would just have taken their business elsewhere.

You have to ask yourself. If you're paying dirt cheap prices for your products, who's getting screwed on the other end. I'm just not sure that paying more will solve the problem. Who's to say that extra money won't just end up in the pockets of the owners?

How do we, as responsible world citizens, make sure our fellow human is treated fairly?

I didn't see the program in question, but I've seen others and read about how wholesalers, jobbers, and other 'middle-men' make great profit at the expense of workers in other countries particularly in the Third World. This is one of those thing you can do something about. Learn about the 'Fair Trade' program and patronize places that support it. One place near me that does is 10,000 Villages. Not only is it a great way to support the people who makes these goods but you can find unique housewares and gift ideas there.

Melody said:

How do we, as responsible world citizens, make sure our fellow human is treated fairly?

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International unionism.

I would pay more. It's always a good idea to not get the cheapest of something.

For instance, I bought a bathroom scale, but instead of buying the low tech 5$ one, I bought the $40 one. I hope more of the money goes to people like that.

Saw11_2000 said:

I would pay more. It's always a good idea to not get the cheapest of something.

For instance, I bought a bathroom scale, but instead of buying the low tech 5$ one, I bought the $40 one. I hope more of the money goes to people like that.

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The expensive stuff comes from the same places these days. But you have to pay someone for the lable.

Terry
_______________________________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.

You know, I wouldn't pay more. I know it's not these people's faults that they live so poor lives, but it's not my fault either.

Thanks for the 10,000 vilages link, that was a pretty cool concept. Perhaps if the manufacturers made a website store or something where they could sell you the denim for $10, distribute the wages fairly, and still give the buyer a good deal. Wishful thinking though. Or we could drop a few less daisy-cutters and drop in some foreign aid, although this is tricky without creating a wellfare state. >.< However, something must be done to increase their industrial capacity, or else we are no better than the imperial powers that exploited their raw-materials colonies around the globe. er, wait, we are an imperialist power exploiting....

Unedited said:

You know, I wouldn't pay more. I know it's not these people's faults that they live so poor lives, but it's not my fault either.

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Isn't it? If we support businesses with a reputation of paying slave wages, are we not supporting and encouraging their business practices....and as a result responsible for perpetuating the poverty of the workers?

good old wally at walmart didnt make billions of dollars by stiffing people out in china. Thats Unpossible! Consumers shouldnt pay more, tycoons shouldnt become tycoons off of wage slavery. But what can we do? Talk about it? Actions speak louder at words, so stop buying stuff from places that support this? Will people stop? Nope, people will most definately not stop.

also, our economy is dependent on slave labor, we could not make the change overnight, even if we wanted to (not that we do lol)

well we did a damn good job trying about a hundred and forty years ago..

Maybe its just time to start trying harder instead of dismissing it as "just the way things are".

wa;do

we didn't really change it, besides the location, from georgia to india

obviously i'm greatly exagerating the lack of differences, but the point remains

Melody said:

Isn't it? If we support businesses with a reputation of paying slave wages, are we not supporting and encouraging their business practices....and as a result responsible for perpetuating the poverty of the workers?

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No.

Reading through these threads, I am reminded of show where Paris Hilton said, "wal-mart, what's wal-mart? Is that where people buy walls?"

I believe consumerism is a silent plague in our country. And let's not just criticize wal-mart, because they do in fact allow people of lesser income, to get things for themselves, that they might not otherwise be able to afford.

Let's also talk about the people who charge $300 for a pair of jeans, or a pair of shoes. Is there more material, or labor used in a $300 pair of pants, than a $12 pair of pants?

I boycott Wl-Mart out of principal. I don't want to support slave labor. I don't want to support corporate giants who destroy small business because they can. I don't want to support a company who will move into a town after being told they are not wanted. I don't want to support a company that supports governments to take away private homes and sell them to Wal-Mart so they can build a new store on that location. I don't support them because they have a very cult like pep chant that makes my blood boil and my teeth to grind any time I hear it.

Yes, they have cheep prices. Big Woop! I can go to the thrift store and buy cheeper. So what they stock food too. Any good grocery store has the same products and often a better quality. As a thrifty person and penny pinching somebody myself, shopping at Wal-Mart is a disaster to the pocket book in the making. Only the sales ads, end-caps and front aisle items are the cheeper and are often of inferior quality. With a little searching, I can find anything at a better price and quality than Wal-Mart provides.

I'd rather support my local economy than to keep sending my dollars overseas by buying trade goods. As a side boost, thrift stores often support charity groups too. So I frequent local producers, mom and pop stores and farmer markets. I do what I can to purchase what I need that's produced locally. It's a shame I can't get everything I need as a local product.

I'd rather pay a fair price for anything. So how about cutting the middle man out of the picture? If I could get a 3cent pair of pants plus S+H, I'd buy in bulk. Who wouldn't? It would be a huge boost to the workers if only we could both skip the middle man. It's getting to the point that the huge middleman companys are just a relic. They are not really needed anymore.

Isabella.

I would happily pay more. Fair trade is growing all the time, which is nice.