Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Radar
...This is what ended child labor... not unions. When people speak with dollars, it is far more effective than any law. Businesses are in business to make a profit, and there is no long term profit in dishonesty or in harming people.
|
Riiiiight. So they move to the Far East where there are no child labor laws.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Radar
Nike is one of the most socially responsible companies on earth. They give jobs to people in other countries that would die of starvation without their help, yet there are some foolish people who accuse them of exploitation or other such nonsense.
|
You do realize that the reason Nike, Coca Cola, Phillips Van-Heusen, Levi Strauss and other large manufacturers utilize Far Eastern countries (instead of say, Europe) for their manufactoring is because there are very few if any laws there to protect the laborers? The governments of those poor countries condone physical abuse, child labor, excessive working hours, pitiful working conditions, unauthorized withdrawals from their paychecks or refusing to pay the employees at all? Any attempt by these employees to unionize or organize is quickly squashed, even by assassins if necessary, in order to continue to operate at minimal costs. These companies are not there out of the goodness of their hearts or to 'help', they are there to get the maximum product for the least cost. It has nothing to do with being socially responsible.
You say that investors care, that unethical behavior is not profitable in the long run, but I beg to differ. We don't care. We want our stock dividends and our pretty Nike shoes at reasonable costs. As long as the manner in which they produce these products doesn't affect US directly, most people turn a blind eye to unethical behavior.
Would these people starve without these jobs? Maybe. So abusing another human being is justified if they will tolerate it in order to survive?
Stormie