Isn’t the success of the American economic model built upon 3rd world slave labor?

Question

…With all of our platitudes about ‘hard work,’ ‘enterprise,’ and ‘ingenuity,’ isn’t most our wealth essentially derived from the 3rd world? When American consumers feed the corporate machine by purchasing inexpensive products from their favorite big box retail stores, aren’t these higher levels of consumption made affordable by people in Asia who make these products for comparatively substandard wages in factories that would not be able to operate in the U.S. for any number of conditions, environmental or ethical? And since these high levels of consumption are what sustain our robust economy, isn’t the amount of ‘disposable income’ of the average consumer ultimately determined by how much ‘we’ can exploit the economic disparities between countries? If corporations farm out the *true* costs of doing business to the 3rd world…then privatize the profits back here on U.S. soil, how can you call that success?

hmmm...working 18hr. days in a sweatshop or subsistence farming..? tough choice, but it doesn't answer my question.

I agree totally AZ, I 'vote with my dollar' as much as I can.

LOL--Aggiegirl--no potato chips here--I'm on a low carb diet.

Answer 1

That's easy for you to say, sitting naked in your mother's basement, eating potato chips (plastic bag manufactured on cheap, illegal immigrant labor) typing on a computer made in a 3rd world country, sitting on an old, worn out chair that a slave laborer would pay a year's salary to have in their home, and you have the gall to ***** about the economic consumerism that carries the world. I'm sure your platitudes provide you with some measure of comfort, as you deign to consider from your comfy environs, the plight of the poor, unfortunate 3rd world slave laborer. Your condescension is cold comfort to the worker who provides you with the very opulence you scorn.

Answer 2

no.

the american industrial model was pioneered by henry ford who advanced the notion that those who worked for him should also be his customers.

his idea was the model that made america the world's largest economy and was critical in the development of the world's most influential middle class.

that was then.

the 'modern' model that has american coroprations on the one hand saying that they are patriotic, but at the same time moveing their headquarters offshore to avoid paying their fair share of taxes and then outsourcing good jobs overseas will eventually lead to the fall or shrinkage of the american middle class.

this will plunge the world into a depression the likes of which has never been seen before.

in ford's day, the more success you had with the economy, the more you paid in the form of taxes. this was just and sensible.

today, modern companies feel that if they can avoid paying their fair share of taxes, it should be done at all costs.

this is all to feed the SHORTERM bottom line, with no vision to the horizon.

Answer 3

It ticks me off to see every product with the stamp Made in China. I always try to buy American products, I am tired of seeing the influx of junk products into our country. There should be tariffs on all this crap that comes from over seas, but no politician has the jewels to do something like this, for fear of retribution in the form of contributions.

I wouldn't say our economy runs on the backs of 3rd world people, their businessmen are just as bad as ours. But who am I to tell anyone how much money they can make. If they put the effort and drive into being millionaires then so be it.

Answer 4

#a million. Burn his delivery certificates. #2. If he's not a minority, make him marry one, fantastically if he can locate one, with a pair of youngsters. (could no longer injury to get a dogs, too.) #3. Bribe ACORN to hitch electorate, fantastically from the ethnic team he's from, or marries into. #4. Have him run as self sufficient in 2012, because of the fact the Dems. And Repubs. are so worried approximately one yet another, they won't be responsive to what hit them. And, u . s . of america would be a 0.33 worldwide u . s . by skill of then. #5. enter his call for the subsequent Nobel Peace Prize Nominations, stating a team of B.S. approximately what he could accomplish interior the destiny.

Answer 5

I agree, if China is still 3rd world. Working girls 100 hours a week in a factory producing goods sold in the US and paying her 12 cents an hour is slavery in its highest form. It amazes me that someone hasn't denounced this practice. The US keeps it going by buying goods made in China, therefore the US condones slavery.

Answer 6

Yep. The comfortable life Americans enjoy is only possible because of Western exploitation of poorer nations.

"For the rich to live comfortably there must be an adequate supply of the poor".

- Voltaire

Answer 7

Grow your own crops, stop buying 3rd world stuff and only buy items made in the US.

Simple put, you control the "3rd world slave labor" with your purchases. If you are feeling guilty, then stop doing it.

Answer 8

Technically it's not slave labor as the workers are paid.
Not much but they are paid.
A bit like our own workers during the Industrial Revolution.

Answer 9

And what would these people do if they didn't have these factories to work in? If they're choosing to work there its because its better than any available alternative. Removing these factories would help nobody

Answer 10

I really wish I could afford to boycott Wal-Mart.