Reply #71: What about FAIR trade? [View All]

[lapislzi]

Free trade does not trump all other considerations. It absolutely, positively (imo) should not trump the rights of human beings.

And why should human rights and "putting food on the table" be incompatible? Putting food on the table IS a human right. The point is that Wal-Mart can well afford to pay its workers a decent, living wage...so that the children in these countries do not have to work. It chooses not to. It chooses to put profit above people.

And what exactly would you call it when you the consumer turn a blind eye to working conditions of people in other countries? Would you tolerate such conditions in American factories? Again, I ask you, why is it OK to exploit Brazilian workers? Why? You have no answer.

Nor will you find any post of mine decrying outsourcing out of hand. That's actually a different discussion. There are many factors in play, and to truly embrace "globalism" one must address the needs of everyone on the planet.