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Author
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Topic: How the rest of the world views the United States
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Gorf
VoivodFan
Member # 119
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posted June 21, 2003 11:53
   
Well, I suppose I could throw in an Eric Fromm lecture about the plight of the individual alienated from mass-consumerism society, but.....We are a commodity. The movies don't even attempt the slightest cultivation or message anymore its all special effects and nonsense.
The media is only concerned in saving McDonalds image so it doesn't Chapter 11 like it deserves. We are exploited to the hilt- instead of prices going down like when demand is low, that Satan Alan Greenspan keeps prices artificially high so everything you do need or want is top -dollar. Every job is like you are doing three jobs for the same money (or less). Zillions more TV and internet channels with less anaysis, content, and information with short attention span items. Dumbed down to the lowest common denominator. Like that Apollyon Sun song from "Sub" "Go get your feeding frenzy under control" -Tom Warrior
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KnickerZohnonnof
VoivodFan
Member # 272
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posted June 21, 2003 13:20
Gorf there are two reasons for this:1. Westerners seem to want everything as cheaply as is feasibly possible. 2. Companies wishing to keep their profit margins will source work to places like China, where there is no legislation to protect the workers, or any form of minimum wage. What you have to remember also is that, in spite of the fact that many of us, myself included, find these conditions totally repugnant, for the people working there it's actually a step up. It's either that or eke out a peasant life in some field where nothing at all is guaranteed and you live on the verge of starvation and disease is rampant. Catch 22, and the companies who set up there know they will have queues of people begging to work for them. Add to that the fact that shipping costs are minimal due to the fact it isn't taxed to any extent, and you have the reason why they do it. And look at the environmental implications of it. If we taxed shipping like the UK government taxes the car it wouldn't be possible for this to happen. But no government has the backbone to do this because again they are in the pocket of the very people it would affect. Another catch 22, and these companies know it! What is the answer? Prioritise sustainablility and environmental considerations over the need to make money at any expense. Will it happen? Yes, when it's too late and the planet's natural balance is irreparably destroyed. Only then will we realise we can't eat money.
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