ho hum

[lauralh]

"For example, in Honduras, the site of the infamous Kathy Lee Gifford sweatshop scandal, the average apparel worker earns $13.10 per day, yet 44 percent of the country's population lives on less than $2 per day."

Comments

[chris.livejournal.com]

i'd pay more for a pair of shoes if i knew the working conditions that made them were fair. I know your average wall mart shopper wouldn't though.

[tyrven.livejournal.com]

Would you really? It's easy to say that. When your cost of living doubles or triples, however, and you find yourself opting between your values and a different socioeconomic status altogether it becomes a bit more difficult. Would you choose to live in effective poverty rather than support any product made by unfair work conditions (if such a standard were possible)?

[chris.livejournal.com]

first off, i'm not trying to be judgemental here. there are obviously a lot of people who shop at wal mart because thats all they can afford, and though i dislike them as a business entity, they do fill a pretty serious need in our society. but personally, i can afford to shop elsewhere, so I do. for most people, myself included, its going to be a compromise and not an "all or nothing" type of thing. socioeconomic status proportionally is going to dictate how many "fair labor" goods one can purchase. at some point yes, you have to decide between your value system and basic survival, or even comfortable survival.

and then obviously this is all a personal choice to be made. some people aren't going to find any value in how their goods are produced, regardless of their income.

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

I just wish they'd actually pass the savings onto the consumer. Fucking Nike.

[tyrven.livejournal.com]

I could care less about the consumer. I wish they'd pass the savings onto ME.

[herbaliser.livejournal.com]

maybe if you bought their shoes they would!

[tyrven.livejournal.com]

Or better yet, their stock.