Buying American Union Made Clothes is bad?

[R_P_A_S]

in my economics class we talked about this. the majority of the students seem to be against the idea of soley buying union made clothes from america. they say is an ignorant ideology to keep the money only in america. that we should not be closed minded. Ok Im a retard I know this is wrong. and i just cant think of anything to say in responce to that. so whats the issue here?

does the country hurt? or does it gain anything?

[Sabocat]

Union made clothing should always be supported. I'm not concerned if it is specifically American Union made as long just that it's Union made.

Union labor is higher paid, has better benefits, and better hours. Union labor also has (somewhat) more control over their working environment.

Most clothing unfortuantely is manufactured by labor pools that are not even paid a living wage. Most garment industry workers work inhuman hours in inhuman conditions, employing children etc. What rational person could want to support such a system?

Buying clothing from companies using non union super exploited labor encourages the continuation of the policy to yield more profits and search even cheaper labor pools.

[R_P_A_S]

Originally posted by [email protected] 24 2006, 10:34 PM
Union made clothing should always be supported. I'm not concerned if it is specifically American Union made as long just that it's Union made.

Union labor is higher paid, has better benefits, and better hours. Union labor also has (somewhat) more control over their working environment.

Most clothing unfortuantely is manufactured by labor pools that are not even paid a living wage. Most garment industry workers work inhuman hours in inhuman conditions, employing children etc. What rational person could want to support such a system?

Buying clothing from companies using non union super exploited labor encourages the continuation of the policy to yield more profits and search even cheaper labor pools.
yeah i know all this. but here is where i get confused.

basically the argument is. American cant be close minded in just wanting its citizens to invest american dollars back into american companies.

honestly im fucking confused. I'm basically trying to think of a reply. to why is it better for americans in general to buy union made clothes as oppossed to gap or any of those big companies who have sweatshops...BESIDES the moral issue here.

I dont know if I made sense. fuck it

[Phugebrins]

Local produce also travels less and therefore is more carbon-efficient, though I'm not sure how great the effect is.

"they say is an ignorant ideology to keep the money only in america"
A good deal of the money will go to western profiteers wherever you go, and if you buy sweatshop labour, more of it will likely go to the business owners than buying products of unionised labour. However, there is still the issue that someone in a LEDC then has less work opportunity, exploitative and menial though that work is.

Theoretically, however, if sweatshops are unpopular enough, the employers will go out of business or be forced to allow workers to unionise.

Of course, it's pretty difficult to change things through this means, as finding the most ethical option for every product you buy requires an insane amount of research on the part of the consumer - businesses don't exactly advertise when they use child labour etc. See, when I said theoretically, the theory we're buying into here is the theory of the apologists for capitalism who insist consumer choice makes capitalism moral.

[Severian]

"Buy American" is a reactionary, nationalist demand. Trying to promote "American jobs" divides workers in one country from workers in other countries.

Also it tries to unite workers here with bosses here. The "American-made products" belong to the bosses after all. They profit most. Workers gain only secondarily and indirectly.

Instead, we should look for demands and actions which fight for jobs and living incomes for everyone in the world.

[rouchambeau]

"Buy American", in my opinion, is a good thing. Although "buy local" would better describe my stance. When you buy things that are locally produced rather than made overseas, then you really cut down on the use of fossil fuels.