NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bhopal/4045939.stm

Hey, at least they had a job at the time! Ungrateful foreigners. :mad:

Tell me you're a wickedly satirical individual and I won't use a dead baby from Bhopal to smack you upside the head 'til you see stars.

Perhaps corporate social resonsibility is not such a bad idea, what do you think?

Perhaps corporate social resonsibility is not such a bad idea, what do you think?

I've always thought it was a good thing.

Why doesn't some freebiz kid step in and defend that poor company?

Most likely 'cause either they know they're wrong and don't relish the notion of being pilloried for it, or they just don't give anywhere near as much of a damn about the Human condition as they do their pocketbooks.

Can you say, 'sense of entitlement'?

Globalizations' finest hour. :D

Globalizations' finest hour. :D

Nothing to do with globalization.

Can these people not file suits?

Nothing to do with globalization.

Can these people not file suits?

Nope. Union Carbide ran India operations through a local shell company, in cooperation with some well connected locals. Soon as this happened Union Carbide and the locals convinced (probably bribed) the local govt. to accept plant and handle clean up for a nominal fee. Fee ran out and now government holds legal responsibility but will not pay.

Nope. Union Carbide ran India operations through a local shell company, in cooperation with some well connected locals. Soon as this happened Union Carbide and the locals convinced (probably bribed) the local govt. to accept plant and handle clean up for a nominal fee. Fee ran out and now government holds legal responsibility but will not pay.


This has what to do with globalization? Only companies headquartered elsewhere commit crimes now?

Government corruption is to blame here.

This has what to do with globalization? Only companies headquartered elsewhere commit crimes now?

Government corruption is to blame here.

We have an offshore company, that runs its factory in a country where security demands are lower. That is a large part of what globalization is about. Minimizing costs.

We have an offshore company, that runs its factory in a country where security demands are lower. That is a large part of what globalization is about. Minimizing costs.

Yes, but it is no different than a local company that was exploiting lax environmental laws.

The problem is a direct consequence of the government, not globalization per se.

Yes, but it is no different than a local company that was exploiting lax environmental laws.

The problem is a direct consequence of the government, not globalization per se.

OK, not globalization per se.

But blaming said exploitation of a company on a government sounds like expecting the government to act as the conscience of those originally responsible.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could agree on worldwide environmental and labor laws and then enforce them? Sure the prices would go up, but wages would too, and suffering would go down.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could agree on worldwide environmental and labor laws and then enforce them? Sure the prices would go up, but wages would too, and suffering would go down.

Absolutely beautiful. Would also increase stability, safety, maybe even ease the terror threats. Let's go for it!

Absolutely beautiful. Would also increase stability, safety, maybe even ease the terror threats. Let's go for it!
I seriously doubt it would ease the terror threats, but it would improve conditions for many many people.

I seriously doubt it would ease the terror threats, but it would improve conditions for many many people.
If we got rid of corrupt governments, we could fix both.

The problem with having worldwide labor laws is that all the countries in the world are not equal. Before the West became what it is today, all of the countries had to go through their own industrial revolution, where workers were exploited and paid pittance wages, and people were crammed into slums. Simply trying to avoid that stage of development by raising work standards around the world won't work.

http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/documents/downloads/corporate%20social%20responsibility.pdf

Corporate social responsibilty...a sure winner!

The problem with having worldwide labor laws is that all the countries in the world are not equal. Before the West became what it is today, all of the countries had to go through their own industrial revolution, where workers were exploited and paid pittance wages, and people were crammed into slums. Simply trying to avoid that stage of development by raising work standards around the world won't work.
Why not? The cost of living in third world countries is so low that those people could be paid a living wage for less than the minimum wage in the US. It's not like people would stop investing in third world factories. Just that some more of the profits would have to stay in the third world economies. Their economies would probably continue to grow. Also, some extra manufacturing jobs clould stay here at home.

Why not? The cost of living in third world countries is so low that those people could be paid a living wage for less than the minimum wage in the US. It's not like people would stop investing in third world factories. Just that some more of the profits would have to stay in the third world economies. Their economies would probably continue to grow. Also, some extra manufacturing jobs clould stay here at home.
Profits are staying there. Higher wages mean they can't hire as many people. And so more are left to chase goats around all day.

Profits are staying there. Higher wages mean they can't hire as many people. And so more are left to chase goats around all day.
If they can't hire as many people, then they can't make as many goods. Supply slides, demand goes up, profits go up and more people are hired with the profits. No?

Profits are staying there. Higher wages mean they can't hire as many people. And so more are left to chase goats around all day.

Are you against minimum wages in general?

If they can't hire as many people, then they can't make as many goods. Supply slides, demand goes up, profits go up and more people are hired with the profits. No?
Somewhat. Just because supply slides dosen't mean demand goes up, in fact the higher prices might push away buyers from some of the less essential goods.

If they can't hire as many people, then they can't make as many goods. Supply slides, demand goes up, profits go up and more people are hired with the profits. No?

Demand = constant
Supply decreases -> Price goes up
But cost also goes up -> gross margin remains the same

Of course, you could argue that the workers that are retained will be those with the most skill and will produce more.

Regardless, less money will enter the developing country. The more that does, the more that will be spent on other local goods/services.

Are you against minimum wages in general?

Yes.

Demand = constant
Supply decreases -> Price goes up
But cost also goes up -> gross margin remains the same

Of course, you could argue that the workers that are retained will be those with the most skill and will produce more.

Regardless, less money will enter the developing country. The more that does, the more that will be spent on other local goods/services.
If you have fewer people working but they are being paid significantly more, it's not at all certain that less money would be coming into the country.

If you have fewer people working but they are being paid significantly more, it's not at all certain that less money would be coming into the country.

I suppose that would depend on the total amount distributed as wages.

Would you be concerned that a small portion of the population is significantly better off than the rest?

I suppose that would depend on the total amount distributed as wages.

Would you be concerned that a small portion of the population is significantly better off than the rest?
Not if they spend a good percentage of their income to buy locally produced goods and services. Then they help build the local economy.

Not if they spend a good percentage of their income to buy locally produced goods and services. Then they help build the local economy.

So they would come to be the investing class of sorts? Third world trickle down economics?

So they would come to be the investing class of sorts? Third world trickle down economics?
why not? somewhere to start. Of course they'd be unionizing soon, but that is what yellow-dog contracts are for...

why not? somewhere to start. Of course they'd be unionizing soon, but that is what yellow-dog contracts are for...

I see no reason why not. I was just probing for socialistic tendencies.