I just went into walmart for the first time in months... I feel physically ill

[Jamski]

Just a small example: in Europe, many shops just don't give you plastic bags.

This is true. The last shop that gave me a plastic bag was when I bought a sweater at Gap before Xmas. Buy a cloth bag in the shop, make do with a paper bag or take a basket/bag with you.

-Jam

[Barinthus]

Originally posted by Jamski
I just prefer to buy shoes in a shoe shop, where I get my feet measured, and the assistant talks to me about what looks good, and we have a chat, and she offers me 5% off...

Or to buy books in a bookshop, and if they don't have the one I want, I can order it, and I can ask the assistant if author X has written anymore books about Y...

Or to buy cheese from the cheese store, and know its going to taste great, because the man let me taste it first.

Or to by wine from the wine store and ask the man there what's good with bacon, and he'll tell me X, and I say that's too expensive, and he says "how about this one" and I say, that looks good, and he offers me a taste, and we agree it is good.

That's my dream world.

I have an article I left at work on my wall of . Basically it discussed the inferior quality of food found in America and the impact upon the overall health well-being of Americans versus to Europeans' williness to spend more for quality foodstuff. I don't have the exact numbers right now but on average, most West Europeans spend at around 10% of their annual income on food. While in the States, your average American shell out at around 3% of their annual income on cheap processed brand toxic junk.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by DataAeolus
Young Skywalker here (Kucinich) is a product of mall consumer culture - don't blame him. He has been brainwashed.

I just want to get the most for my money. Screw my community

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Vesayen
I wont buy any clothes made in a sweatshop, if that is what you mean.... so basically nothing made in asia, or south america...

I bet those people who made the clothes are happy. I mean, if they weren't working for those corporations they could be making so much more money!

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Kucinich


I bet those people who made the clothes are happy. I mean, if they weren't working for those corporations they could be making so much more money!

Yes, like slaves should be thankful to their masters for giving them food and roof.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Jamski
People who live within a Walmart "sink" have my sympathy. I'm just glad that in Europe people are still prepared to.
a)Pay more for better products
b)Pay more for better service

People in the US are willing to do so too. However, I'm not willing to pay more for equal or lesser products.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by General Ludd


Yes, like slaves should be thankful to their masters for giving them food and roof.

These people aren't slaves, so your analogy fails.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Kucinich


These people aren't slaves, so your analogy fails.

They basically are. The only difference is that they are forced to work through economic force rather than brute force.

I mean, really. They're working 16 hours a day in a factory, and still live in absolute poverty, and you think they should be thankful?

[Ming]

If there were better alternatives... they would take them. But those jobs are the best they can get... and pay them more than the alternatives. People are lining up to get those "bad" jobs... It's all relative.

[General Ludd]

Originally posted by Ming
If there were better alternatives... they would take them. But those jobs are the best they can get

Isn't that what I just said?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by General Ludd
They basically are. The only difference is that they are forced to work through economic force rather than brute force.

The company chooses to offer jobs to these people. Those people choose to accept. Would you be happier if the company decided NOT to employ those people at all?

More importantly, would those people be happier?

I mean, really. They're working 16 hours a day in a factory, and still live in absolute poverty, and you think they should be thankful?

Yes, since their condition without the company would be worse than their condition with the company.

[General Ludd]

The company chooses to offer jobs to these people. Those people choose to accept.

How diverse do you think the job market is. What other jobs are available to these people?

Yes, since their condition without the company would be worse than their condition with the company.

And yet their condition still completely sucks. Again - it's a case of slaves being told they should be thankful for the generous handouts of their masters.

[Barinthus]

Originally posted by Kucinich

Originally posted by General Ludd
They basically are. The only difference is that they are forced to work through economic force rather than brute force.

The company chooses to offer jobs to these people. Those people choose to accept. Would you be happier if the company decided NOT to employ those people at all?

More importantly, would those people be happier?

I mean, really. They're working 16 hours a day in a factory, and still live in absolute poverty, and you think they should be thankful?

Yes, since their condition without the company would be worse than their condition with the company.

What should be done is this: American companies should be required to treat their overseas peons... err workers as they would an American employee in the States. Benefits, wages that are approirate for their living cost standards and so on. This won't solve the leakage of jobs from the States to other countries but at least this would be more fair and less of an exploitation.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by General Ludd
How diverse do you think the job market is. What other jobs are available to these people?

What's the point? The company doesn't have to offer them the job at all.

And yet their condition still completely sucks. Again - it's a case of slaves being told they should be thankful for the generous handouts of their masters.

If the "slaves" willingly came and were provided with better food and living conditions, then yes, they should be thankful

It's not like the companies have to employ them at all.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by DataAeolus
What should be done is this: American companies should be required to treat their overseas peons... err workers as they would an American employee in the States. Benefits, wages that are approirate for their living cost standards and so on. This won't solve the leakage of jobs from the States to other countries but at least this would be more fair and less of an exploitation.

Then the companies probably won't employ those people at all, and they'll be worse off... I'm sure those people will be REALLY happy about losing there jobs because you didn't want them to be "exploited"