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Do the practices of a company ever sway you from shopping at a particular store?
Also..a little deeper..
Would you stop purchasing goods from a store that buys products from a country that still treats women as second class or has what can only be called slave labor, or commits human rights abuses against its own people?
Do you compromise your ethics, religion, morals etc by purchasing products from such a store?
I'm betting that you may have been thinking about Walmart or some other mega-store.
Here's the way I feel. That kind of mega-store provides jobs, (yes, I know they are low paying) for many, many people that would rather work than sit at home on Welfare. I hate to shop there, but when I do, it means I can buy a skirt and a blouse for the same price as just a skirt at another smaller place. And the label would probably say that it was made in the same place. Clothing and other goods just aren't made in any quanity in the USA any more.
The third world countries, are gradually, very gradually raising their standard of living because of the money selling to these giant stores. Without those sales, things would be even worse for those people overseas. Yeah, some people are getting rich from it, but at present, we can't do much about that. Those are the political viewpoints of those countries, and we can't interfere unless we wish to grant them the right to interfere in our workplaces too.
It may take a couple of generations, that sort of change comes about slowly, but I am betting that raising the standard of living for these people, will in the long run, pay great dividends.
It seems to me that the good outweighs the bad in this case. Our money provides jobs for those that would have even less than they do now.
If every American stopped buying from these stores, do you really think that the women would cease to be considered second class citizens, little more than slaves?? Not on your life..... it's part of their social order. Even pressure from our government would not erase what is the mind set of the ruling class.
I'm betting that you may have been thinking about Walmart or some other mega-store.
Here's the way I feel. That kind of mega-store provides jobs, (yes, I know they are low paying) for many, many people that would rather work than sit at home on Welfare. I hate to shop there, but when I do, it means I can buy a skirt and a blouse for the same price as just a skirt at another smaller place. And the label would probably say that it was made in the same place. Clothing and other goods just aren't made in any quanity in the USA any more.
The third world countries, are gradually, very gradually raising their standard of living because of the money selling to these giant stores. Without those sales, things would be even worse for those people overseas. Yeah, some people are getting rich from it, but at present, we can't do much about that. Those are the political viewpoints of those countries, and we can't interfere unless we wish to grant them the right to interfere in our workplaces too.
It may take a couple of generations, that sort of change comes about slowly, but I am betting that raising the standard of living for these people, will in the long run, pay great dividends.
It seems to me that the good outweighs the bad in this case. Our money provides jobs for those that would have even less than they do now.
If every American stopped buying from these stores, do you really think that the women would cease to be considered second class citizens, little more than slaves?? Not on your life..... it's part of their social order. Even pressure from our government would not erase what is the mind set of the ruling class.
Alternatively if every American stopped buying from these stores then they would be buying from a "more ethical" store (why else would they stop buying from the 1st store). So the "bad store" would have to change their business model to follow the money.
The problem is that as far as the goods that are brought in from overseas (clothing, electronics, linens, etc), little similar goods are just not made in the USA, It doesn't matter where you buy it. Ethical store or non-ethical store, it was probably made oversea.
Look at the labels that you have in your home. Even if something is marked "assembled" in the USA, the components of that item are made overseas. It doesn't matter where you buy it....the ethical store will usually be selling the same goods that are made oversea.
Soooo, are you willing to stop buying about everything except food? It's not going to force big stores to buy USA. The goods simply aren't there to buy.
We need to face up to the fact that the USA is not the manufacturing giant that it once was.
Perhaps the latest problems with lead paint in toys will encourage producers to start staying in the USA where there is at least an attempt to produce safe items.
Alternatively if every American stopped buying from these stores then they would be buying from a "more ethical" store (why else would they stop buying from the 1st store). So the "bad store" would have to change their business model to follow the money.
yes..but from a stictly consumer standpoint..thats just not gonna happen..the "mega" stores..I.E. (Walmart), as previously stated on this thread, control the market on many items..lets take a cell phone for example..I cant stand going to Walmart...but I got the same cell phone at Walmart..for free...vs 129.00 accross the street at the actual agent..its the same way with groceries..
What Im trying to say is..its almost non affordable for most to boycott a superstore in a small town..becasue there are no close alternatives.
It certainly is true that consumers speak with their money. So I try my best to consume as less as possible.
The last time I've bought clothes was probably 10 years ago. I've inherited some of my father's clothes when he passed away, so I have enough clothes for a lifetime. I still use the 3 pairs of army boots which I've received when I was drafted 15 years ago.
Since the mid eighties I used to buy a new computer every 5 years because I used to game regularly. But with the coming of Vista I've stopped gaming altogether, so I don't think I need to keep this up.
For my entertainment I have the Internet which often is free.
The things that I buy daily is food, which unfortunately is delivered by the large multinationals. But since the Dutch government takes it responsibility about food very seriously, I trust them to keep the multinationals in check.
yes..but from a stictly consumer standpoint..thats just not gonna happen..the "mega" stores..I.E. (Walmart), as previously stated on this thread, control the market on many items..lets take a cell phone for example..I cant stand going to Walmart...but I got the same cell phone at Walmart..for free...vs 129.00 accross the street at the actual agent..its the same way with groceries..
What Im trying to say is..its almost non affordable for most to boycott a superstore in a small town..becasue there are no close alternatives.
When you get it for "free" doesn't that compound the problem. I mean great for you.. you didn't spend any money. Not great for the employees who end up paying for it in the end with decreased health benefits.
When you get it for "free" doesn't that compound the problem. I mean great for you.. you didn't spend any money. Not great for the employees who end up paying for it in the end with decreased health benefits.
my point is that when a large company can offer something like that..dirt cheap..its hard to boycott them...and I agree..i used to be a unhappy manager of lots of employees at a "MEGA STORE"..who were also unhappy..because of decreased health benefits..(due to a cut in hours)..while the store itself made millions....and didnt I like the way they treated their customers..nor their vendors..
Also.. is the unethical purchasing of goods/services from a company less ethical than Adultery or "being gay".
Is it less ethical because "you" are doing it. I don't mean "you" as the person reading this.. just "you" in general.
Or maybe its just unethical to not be a smart shopper and do research on purchases. Maybe you can't completely rule out the "Made in China" but certainly consumers can be more educated (i.e. educate themselves) on where their products come from.
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I let my money talk for me.
So I try my best to consume as less as possible.
But since the Dutch government takes it responsibility about food very seriously, I trust them to keep the multinationals in check.
