The United States Current Economic Empire - What is its rang

[timbaly]

Lately there have been so many threads relating to or mentioning the Economic empire of the US. However most of the debating is about events from 1950 - 1993. I want to know what the current eco-empire is. This refers to any company that uses other countries to exploit workers and make higher profits. I would like the name of the country and company along with any information about opposition to the factories by the people in that paticular country.

Various shoe companies come to mind at first. We have the Jordan Empire or the Michael Dynasty, in other words Nike, who make many shoes in SE Asia and pay their workers next to nothing for their work. Steve Madden is another one. Infact my very own Uncle went to China to attend the ceremonies to open up a new factory. He was officially represnting Steve Madden.

[Capitalist Imperial]

Quote: from timbaly on 10:12 pm on Jan. 14, 2003
Lately there have been so many threads relating to or mentioning the Economic empire of the US. However most of the debating is about events from 1950 - 1993. I want to know what the current eco-empire is. This refers to any company that uses other countries to exploit workers and make higher profits. I would like the name of the country and company along with any information about opposition to the factories by the people in that paticular country.

Various shoe companies come to mind at first. We have the Jordan Empire or the Michael Dynasty, in other words Nike, who make many shoes in SE Asia and pay their workers next to nothing for their work. Steve Madden is another one. Infact my very own Uncle went to China to attend the ceremonies to open up a new factory. He was officially represnting Steve Madden.

locals flock to nike factories, as the compensation at those places are much better than indigeonous work

Nike is creating a net benefit to those regions economically

[timbaly]

The economies as a whole might be better but the actual workers are treated poorly and paid poorly. The conditions are similar in comparison with those of the early 20th century in the US. Nike makes billions if not more while the very people who allow them to make these profits get so little in comparison to their labor.
ust remember this, just because one situation is better than another that doesn't mean it's a good situation. So even though the people are employed they're being treated similar to slaves.

[Capitalist Imperial]

Quote: from timbaly on 1:33 am on Jan. 15, 2003
The economies as a whole might be better but the actual workers are treated poorly and paid poorly. The conditions are similar in comparison with those of the early 20th century in the US. Nike makes billions if not more while the very people who allow them to make these profits get so little in comparison to their labor.
ust remember this, just because one situation is better than another that doesn't mean it's a good situation. So even though the people are employed they're being treated similar to slaves.

so even though we improved the situation, we didn't improve it enough to satisfy you?

do you have a problem with america being there period, or the fact that we aren't doing enough in your eyes?

[timbaly]

I say we aren't doing enough at all. We pay those people horribly while we enrich the spokeperson for the shoe, like michael jordan, just because he makes a commercial. It costs so little to make those shoes yet Nike charges over $100 for most types of them. The workers get paid mere cents per hour while the big shot owners enrich themselves.

[antieverything]

Among leftists, I'm the odd man out when it comes to globalization. I try to look at the good and bad on the issue...the fact is that the third world countries with the most foriegn investment have the fastest growth in economy and in standards of living and dropping poverty rates.

The real issue is that we should have a fair global economic policy to replace that of the WTO, World Bank, and IMF. Foreign investment is good but these growing economies can't be totally dependant on American corporations...they must be able to build local microeconomies.

American Imperialism is really starting to fall into disrepair as the power is transfered to multinational corporations and financial institutions...but these are still for the most part American and it must be pointed out that these same sort of institutions run our government...which is fucking ironic if you ask me.

When it comes to globalization, the sad fact is that the race to the bottom is inevitable...all we can do is shield the environments and workers that are at the bottom--which is why international government will become so much more necessary in the next few decades. While we are told that democracy is thriving after the fall of the USSR the fact is that more and more political and economic power is being put into the hands of autocratic institutions answerable to noone but their stockholders. This century will either be the age where we see the emergence of massive-scale fuedalism with corporations in command or where we will see the people of the world begin to take the power back...or really for the first time, I guess ;)

Who knows, maybe the Cappies will actually understand where I'm coming from on this one.