Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I believe they are to some extent, but should we really hold their feet to the fire?
Send in independent auditors to check the conditions of these factories, and if they are found to be behaving illegally(based on US standards), fined? Broken up for repeated violations?
Do we owe the rest of the world anything? Or are they there just to provide us with stuff until we are done with them?
I absolutely think that US factories in foreign countries should abide by US domestic laws. But just as important -- yet hardly ever discussed -- is that foreign-owned factories in foreign countries that sell products in the US should also abide by those laws. That means labor laws, OSHA laws, environmental laws, right-to-unionize laws, etc. If they refuse, then we either ban their import or impose an import tariff on those products to make them less competitive with US made products.
Any product sold in the US should be made in accordance with US laws!
I absolutely think that US factories in foreign countries should abide by US domestic laws. But just as important -- yet hardly ever discussed -- is that foreign-owned factories in foreign countries that sell products in the US should also abide by those laws. That means labor laws, OSHA laws, environmental laws, right-to-unionize laws, etc. If they refuse, then we either ban their import or impose an import tariff on those products to make them less competitive with US made products.
Any product sold in the US should be made in accordance with US laws!
Have you really considered what you wrote? So you think the USA should dictate to Japan, the UK, Germany, etc. in addition to China how they should manage labor?
Example: Most other countries have very liberal tobacco laws. The US tends to have tight controls on where smoking is allowed. If it is normal in Japan to smoke in the office, but it's against the law in the US, are we to force these companies to change their policy?
I am against labor exploitation, but I don't think it is so cut and dry worldwide what is good or bad labor practice. Within some reasonable limits, every country should be respected as autonomous and responsible for the health and well being of its citizens. If we dictate to other countries how they workers work - then these countries will surely do the same to us for our goods sold in their countries.
No. While there may be a number or reasons for U.S. companies to have their products or parts built in foreign countries, the main reason is cheaper labor. Are you suggesting that U.S. companies be forced to pay U.S. minimum wages, etc. in countries where that's 10 times the normal wage scale?
U.S. manufacturers should not be held to any standards other than those established in the country in which their factory is located. To do otherwise would be foolish in many respects.
If you want the factory worker who built your smart phone to be treated like an American worker, buy a phone that was built entirely on U.S. soil.
So you think the USA should dictate to Japan, the UK, Germany, etc. in addition to China how they should manage labor?
No, not the countries, the companies. Big difference.
Quote:
Example: Most other countries have very liberal tobacco laws. The US tends to have tight controls on where smoking is allowed. If it is normal in Japan to smoke in the office, but it's against the law in the US, are we to force these companies to change their policy?
No, not force them. They can either change or they will be taxed (import tariff). That tax could be put in a fund to treat lung cancer patients or some other use, perhaps reducing our debt. Or we could restrict imports.
Quote:
I am against labor exploitation, but I don't think it is so cut and dry worldwide what is good or bad labor practice.
If we determine something is harmful/beneficial to American workers, how is it not harmful/beneficial to foreign workers? Is it because they are less human, or less endowed by their creator with certain rights?
Quote:
Within some reasonable limits, every country should be respected as autonomous and responsible for the health and well being of its citizens.
How has that worked? Aside from the blatant use of genocide, I doubt most foreign government really have the health of their citizens in mind when those citizens can be exploited to provide trade revenue.
Quote:
If we dictate to other countries how they workers work - then these countries will surely do the same to us for our goods sold in their countries.
Fine, bring it on. Let's see who treats their citizens the best. The often repeated justification for Obamacare is that other countries which have it are better than us because they care more about their citizens.
No. While there may be a number or reasons for U.S. companies to have their products or parts built in foreign countries, the main reason is cheaper labor. Are you suggesting that U.S. companies be forced to pay U.S. minimum wages, etc. in countries where that's 10 times the normal wage scale?
Not immediately, no. But they would have to have a plan in place that would do so over a period of time. Likewise, countries that are just industrializing would be given leeway until they get established, at which time they would have to have a plan for minimum wage phase-in.
Quote:
U.S. manufacturers should not be held to any standards other than those established in the country in which their factory is located. To do otherwise would be foolish in many respects.
Those foolish respects are?
Quote:
If you want the factory worker who built your smart phone to be treated like an American worker, buy a phone that was built entirely on U.S. soil.
Uh... there aren't any smart phones built in the US. That's the point, to bring manufacturing jobs back.
If we determine something is harmful/beneficial to American workers, how is it not harmful/beneficial to foreign workers? Is it because they are less human, or less endowed by their creator with certain rights?
The USA doesn't know everything and it is ridiculous to thing we are always right. Our standard of living is different than that of other countries, especially emerging economies. We think a 40 hour week is just right for most. But other countries don't (France likes a 35 hour week).
Quote:
How has that worked? Aside from the blatant use of genocide, I doubt most foreign government really have the health of their citizens in mind when those citizens can be exploited to provide trade revenue.
You just don't respect other governments and you think the USA should intervene whenever it believes it is the right thing to do. We have probably been over-doing that for centuries.
Quote:
Fine, bring it on. Let's see who treats their citizens the best. The often repeated justification for Obamacare is that other countries which have it are better than us because they care more about their citizens.
"Bring it on?" You want trade wars with almost everyone?
I think we should establish countervailing tariffs to negate the economic advantage created by sub standard (union) wages, dangerous working conditions (OSHA), Government subsidy (ownership) and Environmental damaging (EPA) activities. Despite the ravings of Milton Freidman, the world is not level, it is steeply slanted to the financiers that encourage exploitation of the lesser developed countries and the working class of the developed countries for the profit of the very few.
We need to manufacture our own consumer products here as we reduce out weapons production and our wasteful, except for the petroleum companies, attempts at world domination. We need to take care of ourselves and let the rest of the world take care of them.
Yes, companies should be responsible for the products they manufacture overseas and sell in this country. The imports should be non toxic, reliable and serve their purpose.
We are already in a Trade War with almost everyone. We are losing this war as our industrial infrastructure is dissolving under the corrosion of unfair trade.
The USA doesn't know everything and it is ridiculous to thing we are always right.
So you would be in favor of repealing all laws?
Quote:
Our standard of living is different than that of other countries, especially emerging economies.
And our standard of living is dropping and will continue to drop until it matches that of the emerging countries.
Quote:
We think a 40 hour week is just right for most. But other countries don't (France likes a 35 hour week).
And they are free to impose restrictions from companies/countries that they believe are overworking their workers/citizens.
Quote:
You just don't respect other governments and you think the USA should intervene whenever it believes it is the right thing to do. We have probably been over-doing that for centuries.
So you don't believe that we should have any right to control what comes into our country? We should accept whatever the world has to offer?
Quote:
"Bring it on?" You want trade wars with almost everyone?
I absolutely think that US factories in foreign countries should abide by US domestic laws. But just as important -- yet hardly ever discussed -- is that foreign-owned factories in foreign countries that sell products in the US should also abide by those laws. That means labor laws, OSHA laws, environmental laws, right-to-unionize laws, etc. If they refuse, then we either ban their import or impose an import tariff on those products to make them less competitive with US made products.
Any product sold in the US should be made in accordance with US laws!
Should they?
If they should abide by US domestic laws, why would they outsource in the first place?
But here's the deal: We regulate the working conditions and environment, which is great. Employers however, reacted by moving these jobs elsewhere. Our workers are better protected, but are... out of work! Was it a good deal?
As for telling China how to regulate their work places: I don't know how to say it in Chinese, but their answer is the equivalent of "you can kiss our a@@" !!!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
