There are several options you can choose from when considering your journal. Pick one of the following questions and answer it fully in a journal of a minimum of 150 words.
1. With jobs going overseas (outsourcing), companies say that they need to do this to compete with other companies. For instance, companies send work overseas to cut costs and see their stock price jump as a result. Critics say that these foreign workers don't pay taxes to the American government like American workers would; also, the unemployed American workers become part of the unemployment pool. They may be overqualified for entry level jobs.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=519224 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's business article on outsourcing and its benefits.
Is there a limit of jobs that American companies should be allowed to export overseas? Or do American companies need to compete with other companies and shouldn't be held back by government restrictions?
2. Products made in foreign countries by workers (some of whom are under 18) allow American companies to keep prices lower for us, the American consumer. American businesses aren't bound by U.S. child labor laws but bound by the laws of the country. Plus, U.S. companies don't have to pay American minimum wages. This is taken from www.sweatshopwatch.org:
"According to independent labor rights organizations in Hong Kong, a living wage in China would be about $0.87/hour. Minimum wage rates vary as they are set by each provincial government, however, they do not meet this living wage. Shanghai's minimum is $0.21/hour, and Guangzhou's $0.26/hour.
("Behind the Label: Made in China," March 1998, Charles Kernaghan/National Labor Committee.) "
The question is: are you willing to continue buying goods from companies that use labor like this b/c of the price? Or are you willing to buy from companies that don't employ child labor or cheap labor overseas? Why? Explain. See the flyer or see www.sweatshops.org. http://www.sweatshopwatch.org/media/pdf/sweatfree_handout05.pdf
33 comments:
I will continue to buy products from overseas if it is a better deal. Even though I know this continues to supports companies in countries that hire young children and pays people very small wages. If you tried to only buy American made products it would be very difficult since most companies have outsourced some part of their company overseas. It may hurt the American society every time I buy a product made in a foreign country, but it also provides jobs for the people overseas. It doesn’t take all the jobs away from Americans either. For example, Walmart, which imports most items from china, is the biggest employer in the US now, which has provided some Americans with jobs.
Secondly, the people in foreign countries that are hired to work would be in worse living conditions if they weren’t employed. An American dollar can travel farther in another currency. For the above reasons, I will continue to buy goods that are manufactured overseas.
Emily Betts 5th
I will still buy products from over seas because its cheaper. Even if the products are made in sweat shops. Even if Americans are losing jobs, people over seas are getting jobs, although they are not getting paid much it is better than not getting paid at all. If the price is too high i wouldn’t buy the product so companies are making more money anyways by having people work in sweat shops. It might be wrong, but the customer is always looking for the lower price.
I am willing to buy products from any company as long as the price is right. I think of it as long as people are getting paid for there work its better than nothing. When Nike was using sweatshops to make their shoes the prices did not decrease much if at all so I wouldn’t even know where my money would be going if i bought Nikes shoes. every time I buy products I never know where my money is going because it doesn’t say on there products "Made in a sweatshop".
Joseph Elia 5th
I do personally believe that there should be a limit on jobs that American companies are allowed to export overseas. Everyday people are losing their jobs in this country. One of the problems is that their jobs are being outsourced just to save money. It is true that companies can have their products made cheaper overseas. They also like the fact that they don't have to pay their workers as much. I don't think that this is fair at all. These compaines are happy with all of the money that they are making while foreign countries and their economy are getting better while ours is getting worse. We import more than we export and now we are sending all of our jobs overseas. So now what are we left with? If the government doesn't start limiting the jobs going overseas, then we'll just watch our economy shrink and shrink until we can't come up again. We have to start making more jobs in this country again.
Brittany C.
6th Hour
I feel that the government should put a limit on how many workers American companies can send overseas. With unemployment as high as it already is, the American economy can't afford to send all those jobs overseas. For example, foreign workers don't even pay taxes to the American government like American workers would. I also do not like the fact that American companies are sending their jobs overseas just to cut costs and see their stock price rise. Can they not compete with foreign companies unless they send jobs overseas? I seriously doubt that. For example, the American automotive industry has to compete with many foreign companies. Their automobiles usually feature better gas mileage and are more efficient. Because our companies have to compete with this, I don't see why they can't make cars more fuel efficient here, instead of sending jobs overseas and supporting foreign companies and increasing unemployment here. So in conclusion, American companies should have a limit on how many jobs they can send overseas.
The question is: are you willing to continue buying goods from companies that use labor like this b/c of the price? Or are you willing to buy from companies that don't employ child labor or cheap labor overseas? Why? Explain.
I am not willing to continue to buy goods from companies that employ child labor because I belive that it is not only morally wrong, but I'd rather pay an extra few bucks and keep my dignity. I have seen a few segments on this topic, how much they pay these small children, the long hours, and so on. Another reason is that it's not like these merchndisers are selling these products made by the young children for a cheap price. Most of the time, they're being sold for 100 times more than the laborers are being paid.
I am willing, and actually do, buy from companies that don't employ child labor. For example, a clothing store called American Apparel is very popular, has great merchandise and doesn't pay their workers unfair wages and give them unbelieveably long hours. America has overcome a lot of thing, espcially things like this. Our ancestors have dealt with this in the past, and we have overcome it. Why would we want to do this with other countries when we know the tear it takes on our families and economics?
Stephanie Nagel, 5th hour
I would continue to buy stuff from overseas because you can't just buy things that are manufactured in the United States because it would sometimes to expensive and if you have to look if it is from the United States so you support American manufacturers you perhaps somtimes do not find what you are looking for. If the American manufacturers are unhappy with their conditions, they have to find a solution to make their things cheaper. I think that it is also important that we support the people overseas. If we would only buy things from American manufacturers we would not support the factorys overseas and they would get big economic problems too. But if we buy some stuff from overseas and some from Americans we would support both sides. And it is also not true that overseas rob the jobs from Americans. If Americans try to find a job they will find one lathough it perhaps will not be the best one. That is why I would keep on buying things from overseas.
Simone G.
5th hour
I continue to buy things from overseas also because most of americas murchandise is made in china anyway. i know that it is wrong to support them but there is really nothing in my power that i can do except boycotting. to boycott the products being made from that company would be bad because they are one of a kind and usually we cannot find something like it so although it is bad it is something that we need to do.
Michael McDonald 6th period
This is a very tough situation. As mentioned before earlier, prices in America are going up. It is getting harder every year to buy necessities for a reasonable price and to save money as well. I know child labor is wrong, just about everybody does. For those who do not, they have yet to learn. I am sure that many people don't want to buy from companies that use child labor, but sometimes if they are cheaper, they do not really have much of a choice. Perhaps we can somehow negotiate with the other countries about not using child labor the desicion would be easier. If that does not work, then maybe boycotting will. Although, some bad things might come out of this. Considering how America is already in serious debt and we need what we can get. Let us just hope that things will work out for both sides.
Elise Lieberman 5th hour
10/17/06
I continue to buy products that have been made in overseas sweatshops. This is because, there is no clear definition on the packaging of the product. There should be a label that tells the customer if that particular product is being made in a sweatshop. Although, this may cause a decrease in sales for the company, now they know that people won’t buy their products. If the companies were to change their view on sweatshops, maybe there would be an increase in sales. Once the company changes, customers will start to regain their trust. Many people have stopped buying shoes from Nike because their products are made in sweatshops. There is no label on their products because obviously, Nike does not want their customers to know about their sweatshops. It would bring down sales but they aren’t giving their customers the whole truth. If I know that the product is being made in a sweatshop, then I will not buy the product.
-Evie C.
6th Hour
There should be a limit of jobs that American companies should have overseas because if not there will be absolutely no work for a lot of people in the U.S. If no companies would hire people from other countries we would not be having this problem. Companies should get off there cheap butts and hire American workers who you can understand on the phone. You get so much better quality from an American than you would someone from India. If companies weren’t allowed to hire people from other nations then there wouldn’t be an argument on this. I say just keep companies from hiring outside the U.S. I went to watch Andy Levin today in the little theater and he said he wanted better quality then really cheap labor and I agreed with him. America would be so much better off if it hired American workers. People and companies would both benefit if we kept the jobs here.
Jeff Kohl 6th Hr.
There should be a limit of jobs that American companies should be allowed to export overseas. People in America need jobs, and if the companies keep sending jobs overseas our unemployment rate will keep going up. It is not fair to give all our jobs to people in other countries when there are people in America willing to work. Also is companies are giving all their jobs to people overseas and not people in America, people in here will not have jobs. If people here do not have jobs then they will not be making any money to buy the products. So no matter how cheap the companies are making and selling their products for, if people do not have jobs they will not buy the products. If all the companies in the United States would stop sending jobs over seas, a lot more American workers could have good jobs. The workers could make a decent living and the companies would still make a reasonable profit.
--Claire M
5th hour
The American government should put a restriction on the amount of work they send overseas because we should fix our unployment rates first, and then other countries. I believe that the government could fix these problems of unemployment by keeping the majority of products being produced in the United States by American workers. This theory would surely help the economy because it would fix the unemployment problem. In addition, there are many problems occuring in Michingan with the car companies not making income to the amount expected. If we were to make the cars mostly in the U.S. then we would fix our dropping economy in Michigan.
I know that in the end the consumer will determine where our products are to be produced because if they are willing to pay the cheaper cost, then they would not like to see products being produced in the America.
Leah C. 6th Hour.
i think that i would have to stop buying products overseas yes it is cheaper but it puts the people here and over seas at a high risk it puts us at a high risk, because alot of people here are losing jobs left-to-right. People overseas are being treated poorly because they are have child-labor and they are paying them lower wage, forcing more immigrants to come to the United States.
I will continue to buy products from overseas even though they are manufactured in sweat shops. Even though i think it is wrong for people to work for lower then minimum wage in cramped corners, I dont believe there is a way to get around buying things that were made overseas. I think that there are so many everyday things we have in our house that were made overseas that we don't even realize it. I also understand if i buy things from overseas it employees less Americans, but there are large companies that have saved American jobs and import most items to America. Even though it emplyees less Americans, we are still getting paid more then people overseas and probably have better life/living conditions. Even though it is horrible that there are sweat shops it doesn't stop people from buying things, a lower price is a lower price. Something to also consider is that when Americans purchase non-American made products there is no label stating it was made in a sweat shop, so people don't always no what there really buying into. For all these reasons i will continue to purchase items that have been manufactured overseas.
Shayna Stilllman
6th Hour
i think that i would not buy products overseas. Only because it supports the fact that companies hire children and pays people small wages. Yes, i know it is cheaper but at what cost? Think about the children overseas what if that was us kids here in America? I know that alot of jobs are being taken here but i don't want to support the fact that children are having to suffering because of the fact that were are buying products that they have to use their sweat and tears over.
I think that there is a limit of jobs American companies should be allowed to export overseas. I think this because the costs of things would be a lot lower because there is no tax paid on them. At the same time though, I don’t think that all jobs should be taken overseas, because many people are already being laid off. If all jobs went overseas, then we would look like we were a land of poverty. The only people that wouldn’t look like that would be CEOs and other “big” people.
I do like the fact though that people overseas are getting paid when they weren’t before, but don’t turn America, something into what the people overseas had before getting American jobs. Our ancestors have worked hard towards getting what America is today. There are already too many Americans in the unemployment pool, and there doesn’t need to be anymore. It’s not fair to the people that have been working for a long time. You can’t just take away someone’s job and think they will be okay. It just doesn’t work that way, especially if they have been working for a long period of time.
~Eboni Bell 6th Hour~
I feel that there should be a limit that the goverment should put on how many workers American companies can send overseas. With unemployment rate as high as it a is, the American economy needs the money so we really can't afford to send all those jobs overseas. For example, foreign workers don't pay taxes to the American government like American workers would but i think they should because they live in our country. I also do not like the fact that American companies are sending their jobs overseas just to lower the costs and boost up their stock price. Can the American companies not compete with foreign companies unless they send jobs overseas? I really doubt it. For example, the American automotive industry has to compete with many foreign companies. Their automobiles usually feature better gas mileage and are more efficient. Because our companies have to compete with this, I don't see why they can't make cars more fuel efficient right here, besides from sending those jobs overseas and supporting foreign companies and making the unemployment increase here.So as what i said before American companies should have a limit on how many jobs they can send overseas.
Gil C- 6th hour
I will remain buying products from overseas if there is a cheaper deal. Most of the goods sold in the U.S. are processed overseas. I am very aware of the labor that is occurring and that I am supporting this issue by buying the product. In a way, we are helping the people overseas by giving them jobs and limiting the United States from losing employment. The conditions in the sweatshop are very poor and the workers are being paid at very low wages. This issue is very hard to get around, mainly all the merchandise sold in the United Stats is made in overseas and there is not a label on all products saying that it is made in a sweat shop if so. Yes, I will continue buying products overseas.
-Kellie H
5th hour
I will remain buying products from overseas if there is a cheaper deal. Most of the goods sold in the U.S. are processed overseas. I am very aware of the labor that is occurring and that I am supporting this issue by buying the product. In a way, we are helping the people overseas by giving them jobs and limiting the United States from losing employment. The conditions in the sweatshop are very poor and the workers are being paid at very low wages. This issue is very hard to get around, mainly all the merchandise sold in the United Stats is made in overseas and there is not a label on all products saying that it is made in a sweat shop if so. Yes, I will continue buying products overseas.
i think if outsoursing is needed it's needed. of
cause it's a faulty argument. why do we complaian when
immagents come into our country and take the
lower-end jobs the very jobs we're talking about. i
guess the peasadent was set back in the 1920's when
every employer in new york didn't care if you were
jewish and running from the law in your "native land".
if they could hire you (namely; cheap) it wouldn't
matter if you were qualified or not. so in spite of
rules and regulations the bottom line is still hard to
get; a stable ecnomy
I also keep on buying clothes or supplies made from companies that are outsourced in other countries. It shouldn't be that way but there isn't really a lot that I can do, but hope that maybe there will be a way that companies won’t be able to have products made in other countries or that there is a limit in producing products outside of the country. Furthermore if people would stop buying products from big companies in the U.S. that are outsourced they would not be able to make more products because of the lack of money. If the top companies in the US would shut down, the economy would suffer a lot too. That wouldn’t be very good. To conclude people should keep buying products from those companies in order to keep those companies in business and hope that sometime there will be a law for outsourcing companies in other countries.
Ken M. 6th hour
I will continue to buy products from overseas because i will be supporting the other countries in their time of need. But it really depend on what country it is because certain countries like iraq i wouldnt support because we are currently at war with them and they hit our world trade centers. I would support like africa and all the poor countries there. So their economy would increase. They would have better housing units and etc.
ERIC WYNNS~5th hour~
Yes, I do believe there should be a limit to the number of jobs that goes overseas. If good paying American jobs go overseas, Americans income and taxes they pay will substantially decrease. As a result, American poverty will increase and the ability for government to provide social services will decrease. If American companies send more jobs overseas going after lower wages, fewer Americans will be able to afford the products. If fewer Americans can afford to purchase products then the amount of American businesses will reduce. If the number of American businesses reduces then the need for American workers will also reduce. The Government needs to regulate the number of jobs that are being outsourced. Having fewer jobs in America also results in less power. By allowing all of the jobs to be outsourced, America is only making other countries economies stronger and allowing our own to worsen. That is why I believe that the outsourcing of jobs should be regulated. Outsourcing jobs is ultimately hurting Americans.
-Brandi B.
6th Hour
I wont continue buying from companies that i know use child labor. And i dont think that we should continue to outsource so much because its not our responsibility to provide jobs for people in different countries, we need to look after the needs of americans and that need is jobs, even if it means higher prices on goods.
Chasey Millar 6th Hour
1.There should be a limit of jobs that American Companies should be allowed to export overseas. At the same time I also believe that other companies need to compete with other companies. To limit the jobs, I think that only a certain percentage, maybe a little less than 50 percent, of the companies jobs that can be allowed to be overseas, which correlates with the size of the company, amount of jobs, and net worth. By using this policy it could possibly increase the American economy, also this way more jobs could open up in America. Therefore some small recovery steps toward issues poverty and unemployment. These issues are very important and growing and they really need to be dealt with. The companies could still save costs, although not as much if they were allowed to have all of their jobs in foreign countries, but it would be a significant amount. The competition is needed for the good of the people but also, taking many, many jobs to foreign countries is not helping the state of our economy or promoting patriotism.
-Mariah Van Ermen
6th Hour
I dont think that i will be buying any more products that are from overseas, even if it has a very good price. I think that because i would rather pay for a shirt thats 70 dollars then buy a shirt thats 20 dollars from over seas. I would not want the 20 dollar shirt because it would be manufactured by sweatshops. I dislike sweatshops beacause the bosses arent very fair to the workers. The workers are young/poor/parents that dont know what to do in life. The workers are people like this beacause they cant really do anything to stop the owners from hitting them, being rude to them, and treating them very very badly. So, i dont care if the items have lower prices, its better to buy things that you know where not made at a sweatshop, beacause then you feel better about yourself. i know that i would feel horrible if i bought something that was made by someone that gets beaten and works in one of those nasty shops. Thank you for listening to my decision, and i hope you learned something about what i said. I also hope you take it into though.
Rhema Saleh
6th hour
The question is: are you willing to continue buying goods from companies that use labor like this b/c of the price? Or are you willing to buy from companies that don't employ child labor or cheap labor overseas? Why? Explain.
In theory, I would like to think that I would buy products that werent made by children overseas, but I know it would just be too difficult. Alot of people would say that of course they wouldn't buy things because it's the right thing to do, but those people wouldn't be able to obtain all the things they find neccesary to live if they did that. I also feel like I wouldn't make a difference. i f I, just one person, don't buy something, or buy things from a store like that, that just means that one other person will and it doesn't make a difference. i don't know how I would fight against it, when I have no power over any of it. I would be proud of myself if I didn't shop at a store like Walmart, but people need things to survive, or continue living in a good lifestyle, and so do I. I feel bad writing this, but it's the truth. This is a matter that I think should be of higher importance to fight child labor laws, but it just isn't. There are so many other things going on in the world that it would take alot to fight against something like this. I wish it was a bigger issue because I read the article and I have learned alot about it over the years and it disgusts me to know how little money they get paid and the whole atmosphere of it. I personally wouldn't even know if something was made in a sweatshop so as a kid, I'm also very ignorant to the whole issue. So even though I'm ashamed to say it, that is my answer.
Colleen 6th hr.
honestly, I would continue to buy products that came for child labor. Some of the children choose to work, but so of them didn't. I don't like the fact that children are being forced to work. the olny problem is that i don't know which companies are using child labor. For example, i just found out that Nike and Hersey chocolate use child labor. I was shocked because i've been wearing Nike and eating Hersey since i was a little kid. Then, i started thinking that kids younger then me are working for a lot less money than what they should have. i hated that these children are being treated like this, but i like the products they make. I love chocolate, it's my favorite candy to have. i really love hersey, because I love hersey i'm going to keep on buying it. I'am just addicted to hersey chocolate. I love it so much that i go to Chicago just to go to the Hersey chocolate factory. Also, i like to go to Chicago for the Nike Town. Now that i know that both of these companies uses child labor i will not stop buying their items, but try to cut down on how much stuff i buy from them. Also, try to fing companies that don't use child labor.
Myles Williams
6th hour
QUESTION 2 RESPONSE AUGUST ORLOW 5th HOUR
I would not continue to buy from these stores because of many reasons. i think child labor is a serious and bad issue that is bringing down the reputation of many great industries today. if
at&t had this many problems in this area then it would be terrible because it is inhumane what they were doing. It is nothing but against gods will and many other factors say that all are created equal. and the worst factor is that children are suffering from this and chilren are more fragile then adults because to kill a man is sick but to torture or kill a child is one of the biggest sins a man could commit. If people knew that child labor and company towns were making the product then they too would not want to buy these products. i would stop buying these products because it does not seem fair that some workers work twice as hard in other countries like china and mexico for little or no profit whatsoever. the truth is that advertising blinds us to how he best of products are made. like the m and m's use sweat shops and labor camps to finish the product and it involves child labor and death and torture and corporal punishment. i think that we should not fund the produsts that we buy without knowing that they were put into a bag or storage container by a child or man working far below the minimum wage. we should not fund the sweat shops anymore whatso ever. we the people buy these products so we have a right to know and to stop this child labor and other methods of working once and for all. no matter what the deal is, all man are created equal...
I will still purchase products from overseas because those products are cheaper. Even still if I know that these products are made in sweatshops, that Americans are loosing jobs because of the cheaper work force of other countries, and that has employers under 18. I would do this because the companies that aren’t outsourcing are mostly charging more from their products, and I as a consumer will be looking for the cheaper price. I will always buy products from an outsourcing company as long as this company isn’t abusing from the consumer or from the workers. If the workers are being paid (even if it’s not much), well, it’s better than nothing. For example, I haven’t bought a sneaker above $50 in my life. I think that anything above that for a shoe is way too overpriced. For the reasons listed above, I will continue to buy products from overseas.
Bruno
I will buy products from over seeas because they continue to be of quality and good value also they cost less. I understand that this is said to be supportive of child labor but i dont think so its just that i like there products. I know that the american economy is hurt by me buying foriegn made products but this is also a oppurtunity for a person to get a job or a raise overseas.These are the basic reasons of why i willl buy foriegn products.
~Ralph Godette 5th~
I will not buy products from overseas even though everything is cheaper there. I have strong morals when it purtains to labor laws and companies breaking them by having their products made in places such as sweatshops, therefore, my consience would'nt let me buy something from a company who takes advantage of the poor. Also, by buying things overseas, I would be hurting the American economy worse than it already is. Seeing as though the United States is billions of dollars in the hole(debt), we need every possible dollar we can get, and by purchasing items from places such as China, they are getting richer and we are getting poorer. On the other hand, I believe that the United States is at fault when it comes to people buying foreign products because most of our good stores are getting their products from foreign countries. If the government didnt want people buying foreign products, they would band stores such as Walmart, from selling foreign products.
~Jasmine Montgomery
It is hard to decide either to choose to keep buyng products from overseas or to stop. If you choose to stop buying products overseas you would have to stop buying so many products, it would be hard to live. Even though buying products overseas decrease the amount of job here in the u.s which creates proverty, it can also decease and create oppertunities for other poor countries.
Ashley Bones 5th
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