The Corporation

[LIFTICVSMAXIMVS]

[quote]Mick28 wrote:
Wow, you really hate the fact that some kids stitch shoes for Nike huh? Believe it or not there are far worse ways for those kids to spend their time. It’s not like they are unable to play Little League, for example, because mean old Nike moved into the neighborhood.
[/quote]
Because there may or may not be worse ways to spend their time should we contribute to their exploitation in a lesser way?

No, unfortunately they were born with very limited choices. Working and making money is probably one of the best ways to spend their hours under the circumstances.

If we can say for certain that they ALL ARE actually receiving the pay that they deserve.

You have to keep in mind that no one is being forced to work by Nike, or any other US company.

No not by nike or the US but the US doesn’t enforce child labor standards in these countries and you have no way to know what mafioso has his hands where forcing whom to do what. That is a completely naive way to think.

Again, you cannot compare it to the conditions for children in the US. Different countries, different standards of living.

Living standards have nothing to do with exploitation. Their pay is going to always be relative to their living standards. I am well aware of that. That is the reason the US cannot compete with these countries.

I would rather pay an American 100x what his counterpart in SE Asia makes to be certain that some child isn’t being forced to work instead of being in school, etc. I don’t expect equal pay but I DO expect westerners to always apply the “golden rule” and not be the cause of undue suffering. But that’s me.

[quote]
Do I wish that every kid in the world had enough to eat, was protected from all potential harm and was given new toys on their birthday? I sure do!

But one thing what separates me from the typical starry eyed liberal is that I understand that this is NEVER going to be the case. And that if their living standard can be bumped up modestly by a job with Nike then they are better off than before Nike got there, both financially and otherwise.[/quote]

It is never going to be the case because of people like you with a defeatist attitude. Action is the only way out and I “walk the talk”.

[Headhunter]

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Mick28 wrote:
And you are assuming that they are slave labor.

No, I am saying that if we assert that capitalism is nothing but good to these people in underdeveloped countries we have to make a broad assumption that they are ALWAYS there working of their own free will and not the slaves of someone who is making them work so that he can fatten his own pockets.

This happens…like it or not. It happens mostly with children whether in the sex trade or stitching shoes for Nike. That is the reality of globalization and it isn’t ALWAYS a good thing.

BTW, guess why many children are forced into the sex trade…western businessmen…[/quote]

Shameful practices have been going on in underdeveloped countries long before capitalism came about. The difference is that a free economy allows choices. If the feudal lord or king wanted to anally rape your son, what could you do? Under capitalism, the victims are not at the complete mercy of a feudal lord or bandit-in-chief. Perfect? No, of course not. But as countries become more wealthy, these practices will die out, simply because children DON"T HAVE to be used in this manner.

Capitalism is not nirvana. It is however the most moral system we have.