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All the more reason to piss them off and ween off our addiction to disposable junk and sweatshop priced labor. Given the impact to the world we all should be a

All the more reason to piss them off and ween off our addiction to disposable junk and sweatshop priced labor. Given the impact to the world we all should be asking difficult questions.

tomp 5y ago
This is a reasonable argument and will be exactly as effective as presenting a reasonable argument to an addict is.
- partsKnown 5y ago
  In this case it really is not effective though. There is no drop in replacement for China. A slow transition would be impossible so it's really all or nothing in the short term.
- adflux 5y ago
  Love this comment
switch007 5y ago
You mean capitalists’ addiction to profit. Double my wage, I’ll buy made in the UK/EU much more often.
- eurasiantiger 5y ago
  We can double your wage, but you first need to buy made in EU and stop buying cheap crap you don’t actually need.
  - imiric 5y ago
    The issue is not so much with frivolous consumerism as it is with cheap crap flooding the market, taking over certain product categories altogether. If you're in the market for any kind of electronics, toys, small tools, etc., chances are your only option is to buy a variation of the same cheap mass produced crap with a different temporary or nonexistent brand and thousands of fake 5-star reviews. Even searching for name brands you run the risk of getting a counterfeit. The system is rigged to the point where quality, and thus more expensive, brands simply can't compete. The change needs to start on the manufacturer and retailer side. Stop prioritizing cost savings from cheap Chinese factories and start building locally and in factories that prioritize quality and respect human labor and the environment. As a consumer I'd happily pay for that overhead if that option was available and was given a fair chance to compete.
  - switch007 5y ago
    Ok we’re obviously making stupid black and white arguments. But it’s patently true in many companies there is plenty of profit to be reduced and redistributed as wages (also exec comp)
    - eurasiantiger 5y ago
      You know you can’t have both that and stonks, right?
- lottin 5y ago
  If wages doubled in the UK/EU everything made in the UK/EU would instantly also become more expensive.
  - aww_dang 5y ago
    Unless those wage increases were the result of productivity increases.
  - switch007 5y ago
    If wages were halved would everything instantly halve in price?
    - lottin 5y ago
      No, I don't think, because wages aren't the only production cost.
- gruez 5y ago
  >Double my wage, I’ll buy made in the UK/EU much more often. Sounds like you're suggesting that made in UK/EU is too expensive, and if only people were paid enough they would be buying local. Is there any evidence that's actually the case? Do SV engineers, doctors, and lawyers buy US made goods significantly more than anyone else?

All the more reason to piss them off and ween off our addiction to disposable junk and sweatshop priced labor. Given the impact to the world we all should be asking difficult questions.

tomp 5y ago

This is a reasonable argument and will be exactly as effective as presenting a reasonable argument to an addict is.

partsKnown 5y ago
In this case it really is not effective though. There is no drop in replacement for China. A slow transition would be impossible so it's really all or nothing in the short term.
adflux 5y ago
Love this comment

switch007 5y ago

You mean capitalists’ addiction to profit. Double my wage, I’ll buy made in the UK/EU much more often.

eurasiantiger 5y ago
We can double your wage, but you first need to buy made in EU and stop buying cheap crap you don’t actually need.
- imiric 5y ago
  The issue is not so much with frivolous consumerism as it is with cheap crap flooding the market, taking over certain product categories altogether. If you're in the market for any kind of electronics, toys, small tools, etc., chances are your only option is to buy a variation of the same cheap mass produced crap with a different temporary or nonexistent brand and thousands of fake 5-star reviews. Even searching for name brands you run the risk of getting a counterfeit. The system is rigged to the point where quality, and thus more expensive, brands simply can't compete. The change needs to start on the manufacturer and retailer side. Stop prioritizing cost savings from cheap Chinese factories and start building locally and in factories that prioritize quality and respect human labor and the environment. As a consumer I'd happily pay for that overhead if that option was available and was given a fair chance to compete.
- switch007 5y ago
  Ok we’re obviously making stupid black and white arguments. But it’s patently true in many companies there is plenty of profit to be reduced and redistributed as wages (also exec comp)
  - eurasiantiger 5y ago
    You know you can’t have both that and stonks, right?
lottin 5y ago
If wages doubled in the UK/EU everything made in the UK/EU would instantly also become more expensive.
- aww_dang 5y ago
  Unless those wage increases were the result of productivity increases.
- switch007 5y ago
  If wages were halved would everything instantly halve in price?
  - lottin 5y ago
    No, I don't think, because wages aren't the only production cost.
gruez 5y ago
>Double my wage, I’ll buy made in the UK/EU much more often. Sounds like you're suggesting that made in UK/EU is too expensive, and if only people were paid enough they would be buying local. Is there any evidence that's actually the case? Do SV engineers, doctors, and lawyers buy US made goods significantly more than anyone else?