Chapter 2

This chapter gives plenty to think about. I have always heard that every dollar you spend is like a vote for the company who produces or distributes that product or service. But this chapter really does make me stop and think about who I voted for today and what that may mean for someone across the globe.

It also brings to light some of my conflicting views. I would say I am in favor of free trade, but not of outsourcing. I like to buy things for low prices, but am not in favor of child labor or sweatshop conditions. If we as a country were to produce the goods we buy exclusively in the United States, could we afford them?

So what is best? Should we continue to allow American companies shop around the world for the cheapest labor and ignore the working conditions of their employees? Should we not trade with countries and companies that do not meet certain standards of pay, working conditions, etc? I do not know what the best solution is. But if I was in charge, I would make big business wear their actions on their sleeves. Make their business practices well known to all and let the people decide. Let the American people vote with our most valued possession: the almighty dollar.

Chapter 2\ sweatshops

The topic about sweatshops was very interesting. How could big corporations like Walmart that produce millions and billions of dollars of year. Have people work for thirty-five dollars a week. Knowing that these people have families to take care. The story about the women working for Gap really touch my heart. We know it wrong to make people slaves for a few cents a day to give consumers what they need. We are all aware of what going on but yet we still purchase the products. I like to shop but I never really took the time out to understanding what someone goes through just make my "South pole" shirts I love. This Chapter helped me to understand the theory of globalization a little better from a different view.

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.

WAL*MART

I have a cousin who used to be a social worker in Los Angeles. I think he's pastor now, but one day he told me not to buy products from Wal-Mart. He explained that the corporate giant had been ruining the local economies throughout the nation. I did not really understand the concept of economy and why Wal-Mart was bad at that time. 

Some 4 years later, now I have a pretty good idea of what Wal-Mart means to the economy of the nation and the rest of the world today. It not only crushes the local economies by bottoming out the prices of goods, but I've learned that it is also one of major culprits for sweatshops.

It's one of the few corporate giants today that has been fiscally performing better as the U.S. economy struggle. It's no surprise, however. With all the commodity prices skyrocketing and inflation rate to reach a double digit this year, it's not so hard to picture millions of Americans flocking to Wal-Mart for the cheapest price "guaranteed."

The Chinese economy has been growing blazingly fast, but it also has shown signs of slowdown recently, as wages and commodity prices are inevitably rising in China and Vietnam, indeed dramatically. Americans won't settle for "cheaper than domestic" prices. They will find THE cheapest price. Where will we exploit next?

What's Behind Free Trade.

This reading was definitely a wake up call. Isabel Reyes’ personal account regarding her job at the Cosmos clothing factory revealed the effect of consumer’s demands for cheap merchandise. This account gave me insight as to how companies in the U.S. are able to sell shirts and jeans at low prices. It certainly is not fair that Isabel Reyes’ hours must increase to meet the demands of Americans, while her pay remains the same. I, although, was perplexed by Candida Rosa Lopez’s quote. She expressed in this quote that she wished more Americans would buy the clothes made by the Nicaraguan garment factory. On the other hand, labor supporters feel consumers should avoid supporting companies that allow cruel factory conditions. When I finished reading, I had come to the conclusion that it would benefit the foreign workers if consumers avoided dealing with these companies. Consumers should also take the necessary steps to educate themselves on the issues regarding sweatshops. Consumers can then make educated decisions about where they would prefer to spend their own money.

Chapter 2

It was so ironic. I was sitting down drinking a passion tea lemonade at STARBUCKS when I began to read chapter two of our book.

The first sentence is about starbucks coffee and how we play a role as consumers in a larger global political and economic sphere. so, with that in mind I got to thinking: am I participating in the misfortune of Latin American coffee workers?

How can we solve these problems if Starbucks, WalMart, and McDonalds are so unavoidable everyday? 

The best part of the chapter was the "race to the bottom" concept.

WalMart is making goods cheaper for its customers but at the same time harming its workers...because it wants to offer affordable goods.

It was a good chapter and allowed me to understand the concept of free trade!!

its gettin' good you guys...

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Global Issues, Local Arguments was a very eye opening read. I say eye opening because even with our eyes closed we know the reality of sweatshops and cheap labor, but as a society we choose not to look. I know that I personally have always known that my clothes were made in horrible conditions and being paid for with someone elses uncompensated sweat but that it is easier to just brush the issue aside and not even think about it. Well this chapter definitly got me thinking. I even felt kind of angered after reading it. I made the rash and determined decision to never buy clothes made in another country again. And then I realized that this is almost impossible. In fact, unless I am a millionaire or unless I have some wonderful sewing skills, I am practically forced to buy the products that I do not believe in. The only way to stop such a practice would be for every person in America to boycott such products, and I somehow do not see that happening. I always had that thought that people in other countries needed these jobs. I felt that in some way we were doing them a favor. After reading this chapter I do not feel that we are doing them a favor at all. This chapter brings to light that it is the greedy corporations that are actually creating these conditions. When large corporations demand lower costs or move manufacturing to countries that have to accept lower pay for employment, "these corporations are forcing workers to compete against each other in a race to the bottom". In summary, the cycle brings everyone down. I would love to learn more about this issue and if there is any way to get out of this cycle of injustice.