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There is no ethical consumption under capitalism. https://marxist.ca/article/why-there-is-no-ethical-consumption-under-capitalism https://marxist.ca/article/wh

by pdkl95 7y ago

There is no ethical consumption under capitalism. https://marxist.ca/article/why-there-is-no-ethical-consumption-under-capitalism https://marxist.ca/article/why-there-is-no-ethical-consumpti... > I bet you can’t even survive if you don’t abuse employees So what? It's still abuse.

lotsofpulp 7y ago
My point is it’s funny to see people call out others’ abuse of employees when the same people, the vast majority of the time, support the abusers by choosing to support their business. The proper response needs to be political support for laws to protect all labor with harsh penalties, not waiting for certain groups to sue in court.
- throwaway2048 7y ago
  lets say hypothetically, nearly every farm worker was horribly abused. Would people be hypocrites that shouldn't dare call out that injustice because they need to eat? Acting like participation in a system is some kind of grave strike against protesting terrible aspects of the system is less than helpful, both logically and rhetorically. It is pretty much the definition of tu quoque and a really lazy defence of the status quo
  - lotsofpulp 7y ago
    >Acting like participation in a system is some kind of grave strike against protesting terrible aspects of the system is less than helpful, both logically and rhetorically. It is that participation that make it impossible for non abusive employers to compete and exist as a business. I know that there is no option in certain businesses, but even the ones where there is an option, it's obvious how price sensitive people are. Everyone decries abuse of employees, but, as reality shows, basically everyone will opt to save money and reward the businesses that import goods from places known to abuse employees. So what good is complaining about the abuse of a specific employer of its employees? We like our cheap goods and services, that's why we don't have the political will to change the laws.
    - throwaway2048 7y ago
      You are supposing the reason why things don't change is because people like cheap goods. Where is the evidence that cheap goods require worker abuse? Or that the reason people don't oppose it is cheap goods? Higher wages come out of profits in a competitive market, they don't automatically drive prices up. I also doubt many people are out in the streets demanding the abolition of minimum wage so they can spend less at walmart.
- ClumsyPilot 7y ago
  How do I know which companies abuse employees and which dont? If I ask the staff, will they tell me? Why is the companies press office even allowed to lie to me about worker conditions without going to jail for fraud? It's not always cheapest stuff either - apple product charge a premium and Foxconn employees are not treated well.

by pdkl95 7y ago

lotsofpulp 7y ago

My point is it’s funny to see people call out others’ abuse of employees when the same people, the vast majority of the time, support the abusers by choosing to support their business. The proper response needs to be political support for laws to protect all labor with harsh penalties, not waiting for certain groups to sue in court.

throwaway2048 7y ago
lets say hypothetically, nearly every farm worker was horribly abused. Would people be hypocrites that shouldn't dare call out that injustice because they need to eat? Acting like participation in a system is some kind of grave strike against protesting terrible aspects of the system is less than helpful, both logically and rhetorically. It is pretty much the definition of tu quoque and a really lazy defence of the status quo
- lotsofpulp 7y ago
  >Acting like participation in a system is some kind of grave strike against protesting terrible aspects of the system is less than helpful, both logically and rhetorically. It is that participation that make it impossible for non abusive employers to compete and exist as a business. I know that there is no option in certain businesses, but even the ones where there is an option, it's obvious how price sensitive people are. Everyone decries abuse of employees, but, as reality shows, basically everyone will opt to save money and reward the businesses that import goods from places known to abuse employees. So what good is complaining about the abuse of a specific employer of its employees? We like our cheap goods and services, that's why we don't have the political will to change the laws.
  - throwaway2048 7y ago
    You are supposing the reason why things don't change is because people like cheap goods. Where is the evidence that cheap goods require worker abuse? Or that the reason people don't oppose it is cheap goods? Higher wages come out of profits in a competitive market, they don't automatically drive prices up. I also doubt many people are out in the streets demanding the abolition of minimum wage so they can spend less at walmart.
ClumsyPilot 7y ago
How do I know which companies abuse employees and which dont? If I ask the staff, will they tell me? Why is the companies press office even allowed to lie to me about worker conditions without going to jail for fraud? It's not always cheapest stuff either - apple product charge a premium and Foxconn employees are not treated well.