Dirk,
Good point. I think we all have mixed feelings over these issues of
affordable products, But at what cost? Corporations only see the bottom line
$$$-wise, and turn a blind eye to what goes on in other countries. The U.S.
auto industry- for one example- gets squeezed and squeezed by U.S. pollution
laws then to get around that, moves plant after plant to Mexico where they
can put whatever pollutants the plant produces directly into the rivers.
Take Motorola for another example- this is not, AFAIK- supposed to be public
info- but they recently announced plans to close their US production plant
and combine that production with a plant in Ireland. Unknown to the Irish, in
a couple of years that plant will also close and all cell phone production
will be in a plant in Vietnam. Apparently, labor costs have risen too fast in
Japan, and elsewhere, and Vietnam is becoming increasingly attractive.
*Skilled* labor rates are supposedly US $2.35 a day per worker.
I know we're seriously off- topic and I do apologize, but there apparently is
enough interest as many are still contributing to this thread. I will end my
contributions here and now.
Regards,
George S.
wright@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
<< On the one hand, I say thank God for the Chinese, since they make it
possible
for me to but decent footwear at Target for 20$, or to buy nice stained
glass
light fixtures for my new house for only 150$ each. On the other hand, I
have
a bit of "liberal guilt" over the probable exploitation of the laborers and
environment in China. I think China has some of the worst pollution on the
planet. Heck, there was a town there that the spooks (CIA, et al) didn't
even
know existed because the smog was so bad that even thier satellites couldn't
see it. So, heck if I know what to do about it. If those shoes and those
lamps were made here in the 'states, I think they would be just beyond my
budget.
>>
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