[TheForge] Re: Taiwanese Machine Tools - and some Yak

[Andrew Vida]

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 20:57:44 -0600, R.C.Mundt <mundt@3rivers.net> wrote:

> Seems to me big business is all about maximizing profit,

	Nothing wrong with profit, but when profit is the ONLY
	consideration, the corporate organ becomes a parasitic
	tumor-like entity, posing a threat to the host.  People
	running such companies are in fact nothing more than
	defacto parasites of the brand that will mindlessly
	kill their host in blind pursuit of their immiediate
	goals.  Personally, I think such people should be shot
	as vermin, dangerous to all.

> and they have
> absolutely no respect for anyone, least of all their employees.

	This is sadly so true.  And unfortunately, there is a
	cascading effect.  Once a major manufacturer moves to
	bumfuck island where they can pay workers $.01 per day
	for back breaking labor, their domestic pricing advantage
	pretty well forces the issue for their competitors because
	the consumer will very predictably go for the cheaper
	product.  Match the pricing or go out of business.  This is
	the sword's other edge in action, and though the initial
	appearances seem wonderful (Oh look honey!  Nike for only
	$10.99... god bless all those nice little brown people that
	make our goods), the long term effects I am far from convinced
	will be anything better than starkly ugly.

	The long term evolution will be interesting to observe.