Chapter 2: Consumerism, Free Trade, and Sweatshops

The second chapter in Global Issues, Local Arguments discussed the use of overseas and foreign labor in the economy. Free trade is such a controversial issue and Johnson pointed out that it has brought so many different products to America, providing us with such a huge variety of brands and items, from the clothes we wear to the foods we eat. The article over sweatshops in China really caught my attention. The labor and sacrifices behind things that we use everyday is often overlooked but the reference to the Chinese sweatshops really made me think. The injuries and sometimes fatal incidents that occur is so tragic. Then Johnson emphasized that the corporation hiring these Chinese workers was Wal-Mart, one of the stores that most Americans depend on everyday. The advertisements and casual environment of this store chain contradicts the rigorous lifestyle of the foreign workers. What other well-known stores are doing the same thing? The "Question to Ponder" at the beginning of Chapter 2 also mentions Starbucks. Although in recent times Starbucks has been losing sales, it is still so well known, especially to college students. So many big names are being connected with factory workers in foreign countries working under terrible conditions.