Fair trade or Made in America*?

Question

(*or where you are from)

Which one do you think is more important, morally and otherwise?

Be Well All - Peace

Answer 1

Fair trade is okay-as long as we make it fair. It is wrong for some big company to buy a product from a sweat shop overseas and sell the product for a profit here in the USA in competition with a company that pays taxes, at least minimum wage and must provide health care for its employees. This kind of unfair competition not only closes down American companies, but it also cost Americans their jobs. If we are not careful, we will all work at Wal-Mart.
The American Merchant Marine Fleet is a prime example. In the 60's and early 70's we had the best Merchant Fleet on the water. We had good pay, good insurance, safe jobs, and safe ships. This all cost a lot of money. But, somehow we let foreign companies that had no safety, poor pay, and no benefits to workers, have all the work-because they could do it cheaper. Now we do not have a Merchant Fleet.
Either buy American-or level the playing field. The Wal-Mart way is not the answer-its the problem.

Answer 2

Fair trade is good things made in america are not made with exploited underpaid slave labor. There are many other countries that I would buy from. China is not one of them, the fact that most of there products are made by slave labor without any regard for the earth or the people who live in there toxic dumps. I am all for fair trade that includes a fair balance for America too.

Answer 3

Fair trade. But for me that's quite an easy choice, i can't think of many 'real' Dutch product anyway. My country is just too small.

Except when it comes to food. I know Italians invented the pizza, but there is no pizza like a Dutch pizza. Specially when made in an Italian restaurant in Holland. Dutch tacos are also yummy! Oh, and the Dutch Chinese cooking!

(Sorry, I haven't been in my home country for over a year now, I miss the food. Sue me)

Answer 4

Made in America

Answer 5

If the label "Made in America" really meant anything then at times I would advocate buying it.. but.. many items that contain that label are actually made in other countries (Like China) and then shipped to the USA where their power cords (or some other insignificant part) is changed and then the label "Made in USA" or "Made in America" is put on the item.

Answer 6

I would say free trade, but with some exceptions.

The exceptions being the country must have human rights laws, not support terrorism, have child labor laws, respect copyright law and enforce them.

The problem with free trade in many countries is that only a few are helped but many are exploted.

Answer 7

Morally, I don't care. It's not an important moral problem.
After all, there is far more serious problems out there, but-----

Wow, am I tired of work jeans giving away so quickly.
Almost paying just as much now for them, and they last 1/4th the time.

Please bring back the Levi and Wrangler factory's if you can.

Answer 8

Made in America if the product is good. I don't mind paying more for something made in America. But quality and durability trumps low initial price.

Answer 9

fair trade?yeah right.......made in america?america the way i grew up........america is dead and gone.
i live in detroit..the car capitol of the u.s. i see ALOT of foriegn cars right in my own back yard.that are made in america!
i am ashamed that my govenment would let wal-mart in this country...almost nothing is sold there that isnt from china.we already know wal-mart and china arent fair about anything.

Answer 10

There are no longer any nation states(economically).Global economies, WTO, Nafta,Gatt ,free trade and the like have made us all one big happy(dysfunctional) family.