oh the stuff we buy

I love apple. I am about to reveal my materialistic, consumeristic nature- so don't judge. Between David and I we have: 2 iMac computers (1 very old), 1 ipod (I have owned 3), 2 iphones, and 1 ipad.

Recently Apple has been under investigation for paying low wages and over working employees in questionable facilities.

According to a news report on NPR, Obama asked Steve Jobs a year ago how to bring manufacturing back to the US- to which Jobs replied- is impossible- to keep the prices of apple products low.

Many Americans are upset that we outsource so many jobs, but at the same time we want our products cheap. Giant corporations like Walmart have mastered selling products cheap- yet I often wonder at what cost do we buy these products?

I have written plenty of posts about money and how we should be frugal, etc... I still stand by those posts, but today I am looking into a different ethical dilemma... the issue of cheap labor.

What if the products we bought were expensive, but fairly made?

What if Apple had two lines of products- an American made line that cost more and a foreign line that cost less?

Recently I have been given clothes from 2 friends- both buy really nice clothes that cost a lot, but are made in the US. It just got me thinking that paying more for quality and fair products might be worth the price.

I tend to shop at thrift stores which avoids the issue of ethics altogether because I am getting things used- but if I did buy things new this is definitely something I would like to look into.

I will add this final thought- in my college ethic's class I argued pro sweat shops because of the jobs for people overseas who otherwise wouldn't have a job.... so I know there is another side to the issue, but I am just not sure if it's the right angle. http://businesstm.com/online-business-blog/sweatshops-child-labor-information.html


I don't have the answers, but I think it would be good to know if the companies we are supporting are adding value to communities and offering fair wages or if they're exploiting communities so that we can get a cheaper product.