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RE: Smog city
By PhantomRogue on 3/21/2008 11:19:03 AM , Rating: 2
Even with fuel costs skyrocketing, the company is still searching for even more cheap labor.

Anything to save a buck. Instead of worrying about the bottom line, Corporations need to understand that the shoddy products they get for the cheaper price will in the long run, be worse than saving today's dollar. Although, by the time that happens, the Board of Directors and all Officers will have retired on their 400,000 dollar a year severance packages.

RE: Smog city
By dluther on 3/21/2008 11:52:16 PM , Rating: 2
For the most part, that's true. However, what you're not acknowledging is that companies don't operate in a vacuum, and they're usually competing with other companies to sell you a product. The way they do this primarily is by enticing you with a lower price, and since it's illegal to sell you a product for less than they can produce it (predatory pricing -- look it up or ask Microsoft about it) they have find ways to produce it cheaper to remain competitive.

For example, labor is a huge source of cost; if they can legally hire a 12-year old girl in Cambodia for 50 cents an hour as opposed to $48.50 an hour for some American union member and produce the same quality product, guess which one they're going to choose?

And while I'm sure my good friend Ringold will have a few words to say about my choice of analogies there, the sad fact is that we, the consumer, are largely responsible for this state of affairs. By continuing to purchase these low-cost goods, we are perpetuating the cycle, thus disincentivising any real reforms that would allow American made products to be competitive on their own, without trade tariffs or other pricing adjustments.

Instead of worrying about the bottom line...

This statement really is the one that prompted me to respond. The bottom line is the most important thing to any corporation, that's why it's called "The Bottom Line"; if it's not, then the entity ceases to be a company and becomes a charity.

America is a capitalistic society. For all our grandiose posturing about Freedom and Democracy, we all live in a country where our well-being and pursuit of happiness is generally equated with wealth. That's not necessarily a bad thing either, and I would also try to disavow you of the notion that 'profit' is a dirty word.

In principle, I understand your position, and up to a point even agree with you. Unfortunately, the way things are and the way things should be aren't the same.

