Re: [Leica] OT: Some of Life's Dumps

["Julian Thomas" <mimesis@btinternet.com>]

>
> I would attribute the down fall of most countries to corruption, lack of
> fiscal management and down right disregard for the welfare of their own
> citizens.  Yes, multinationals invest in these countries for the low wages
> but in this day and age the issue being so hot these factories cannot get
> away without paying at least the local legal wage (though low for Western
> standards).  The many watch groups make sure of that and consumers should
> too.
>
> Ray
>
I don't know how far we can take this on LUG!!
I spend a lot of time looking at the effects of multinationals on local
economies and it is pretty horrific. Disney, for example , has/had a factory
in one south American country where it paid its workers the local equivalent
of half a chicken for a weeks work. The quota (for sewing seams into T
shirts that sold for 40USD each) was so high that mothers had to take their
children in to help.

Also the well-documented examples of America supporting oppressive regimes
in the name of 'stability' or because they were 'easier' to do business with
shows that very often corruption was supported. I'm thinking in particular
of Chile, where the overthrow of an elected government was
made possible only with American backing.

The reason why Tina's project is so important is that we live in a
competitive economic system where there are more losers than winners - and
the winners need help.

Anyway, sorry to treat the LUG as a Social Policy list! BTW a Soc policy
list I'm on is now talking about PJ!

Julian