This Blog will house a collection of posts & discussions created by BloomU's Senior Seminar course for Spring 2010.
Friday, April 9, 2010
No Logo Post 1
See the last few lines on xix: What's your reaction to this irony? Can you believe that we everyday users send our computers in for repair and tech support?
What's crazy is that not only are these workers (teen workers none-the-less) being exploited for cheap labor to make others BILLIONS, but once we dispose of these electronics, the majority (according to Greenpeace 80%) of them get sent back to the same third world countries where we then exploit and damage their environment with toxic materials and wastes. Why can't a company that's going to do such horrendous acts at least show them how to work a damn computer or hell, give them one to learn by themselves. It's beyond ridiculous-- people suck!
These workers are truly alienated from the product of their labor. I believe if Marx was alive today he would punch Bill Gates in the face. The crappy things about computers is that they are obsolete in 6 months after buying one. This fact just makes the demand for more increase, and in turn makes these poor countries work even harder. It's really a shame that many of the workers have no idea what a computer is.It reminds me of the bead workers having no idea what they were used for. Maybe if these workers sabotaged some of the product like Marx says happens with some alienated workers, maybe they would consider changing some of the working conditions or benefits. Damn You Microsoft!
We use all this "stuff" and have no idea how it's made. Then when this "stuff" gets broken we throw it away or pay someone a lot of money to fix the "stuff". Since, I have been taking sociology class for the past year and a half, I am noticing how alienation is happening within different companies. This is also a little off topic but it really bothers me to the point were I want to write. This past week my mother and I took my nephew to the circus in our hometown. We only went so my nephew could see the elephant. While we were waiting for the elephant, we saw so much child labor happening after each act. They were picking my mats that were bigger than them as well as carrying different equipment. I just couldn't believe my eyes.
Alienation of the worker is inevitable in capitalist society. When the competition between businesses becomes too high it leads to outsourcing into third world countries. Unfortunatley, these places are poor and full of people well below the poverty line. So they have to work any job they can and it is usually for less than any U.S. worker would even consider. Furthermore, the countries do not have laws that protect workers or prevent child labor. So teens are hired to make these computers under harsh conditions and then they are sold to consumers like us. Who purchase things based on desire without realizing what went in to making it. We know how to use computers and the majority of us are dependant on them. We also feel the need to have the best products so we continiously buy the most advanced products. Then we throw them out and pollute the enviroment when they become obsolete. With all these things in mind I can understand why we send our computers to repair shops and use tech support. Companies set things up to make as much money as possible and they try to portray a need for these things. The majority of people are too quick to take the easy solution rather than putting matters into their own hands. My has crashed 3 times and I called tech support each time. After being charged my third time I decided to take notes on what the person was saying. I then copied all the files that he had left on my computer and stored them in a drive. Since then, I have not had to call tech support. It might seem wrong to some people but I did pay for the guidance and the files so I should be allowed to keep them. I think people just need to take a different approach to how we operate in this economy. People need to make themselves aware of these things and take the appropriate consuming measures to avoid products of cheap labor as well as being smarter about their products.
Katie: Its difficult to monitor child labor abuse in the US without crossing lines. What some call child labor (and probably truly is) abuse other call helping with the family business...I understand your frustration completely.
Chris R: Great responses. I think one of the first issues is definitely being educated. I can say that learning more and more has helped me to make better decisions...although I'm nowhere NEAR the no impact guy!
"Alienation" is simply a by-product of greed and competition, it's not like the example given of this happening in a third world country is any different than the experiences of many of the factor and industrial workers found here in the US. If you really want to know the details of your labor, you can find out; most laborers choose not to ask about the contents of their labor. As I've said in the past, if the dark-side of consumerism bothers you, then buy used items and quit supporting new industry (it's that easy). A recession is not a product of failure within the economic system of the United States, it is a sign of progress and awareness; an awareness that cannot be used as profit figures for the major players on Wall-Street. So say it loud and say it clear..."Crash the System." weston
Haha "Crash the System" is right Weston. I just finished watching the new Michael Moore film, Capitalism:A love Story (everyone should see it!) and I was so taken back by all the exploitation and manipulation taking place with in our economic and political system. Our middle and working classes are basically being raped of everything that is rightfully thiers. However I think that interchangably we are seeing a stronger fight against institutional injustices which have weakend and divided socio-economics in society.Unionizations=revolt Aka "revolution!"
Alienation is nothing new in the work force and its almost always the poor that are part of the out group that get exploited. And in order for the exploitation to occur they alienated them. When people are alienated, they start feeling hopelessness because they feel as though they have nothing. The job and its reward, money, seem like the only thing that they have and so they work harder. Its been a trend in U.S. history, the only difference with the past is that as time went by there were more rules as to how to treat workers in the U.S. and so companies found a way to take it over seas. -- They also don't want their workers educated because then they can challenge the authority of the companies.
I agree with Mendez...exploitation of the poor class has always been an issue in the US. Whether it happens here or overseas, something should be done about it. It's a shame that companies pay these people next to nothing to make parts for our computers that we just can't live without....and they don't even know how to use them...or worse yet...they built a McDonalds down the street, and these workers don't make enough money to eat there! Then we just trun around and destroy their environment as a reward for all the hard work they gave us....sucks!!!!!
George- Alienation is a part of capitalism nowadays... regardless if you are in the States or a third world country you could easily find underpaid, over worked, and workers who are extremely alienated from their job. Yes, in third world countries it is more prevalent and mush more extreme, but I don't think much will be done to change this. I feel that it is very wrong what is going on and a crazy/upsetting fact that these situation are out there but knowing what kind of society we live in, it is us who we have to blame. We live in a throw away society who wants the newest thing even if the only difference between the "old" model and the new one is that the new one has a new shiny trim on it, big companies know this about our society and are simply trying to benefit from it. I feel the solution has to start somewhere and it should start with us as consumers. The alienation that goes on in these third wold countries and the fact that these workers are so young is very upsetting and disturbing. Just look back at your life when you were 13 and now imagine doing what these kids have to go through
This is indeed a bit of unfortunate circumstances these workers find themselves in. It is completely unimaginable that anyone in the world (save for the very primitaive societies) is still without basic computer skills, yet they make them. I am not naive nor do I live in a bubble and I do know how lacking some parts of the world are, it's just so crazy to think about all the simplicities we take for granted. However unfortunate we all may think this these workers are, it's simply just how things are done. I am all for change and I wish things for humainty would treat each other better but we are a ways away from that. This issue is a philosophical/moral issue. This is a right and wrong, good and bad. I think we are looking at this the wrong way.. Philosiphers look at it from this perspective, Sociologists should look at it from a cause and effect stand point and not the right and wrong aspect. I do agree that these workers got the shit end of the stick as far as the lottery of life goes but without drastic change this is how it will be. Don't forget, conditions in west were once this way. James
The fact that a 17 year old girl dosen't know how to operate the computer she assembles is not the only unsetteling part of that story. Most Americans, including college graduates, can't even tell you how a computer works, but can efficiently opperate one. I think if that girl had the means to own a computer she likely wouldn't be assembling them. And if computers were made in the U.S., they would be much more expensive, making them less affordable. Less people would have them, most likely those with low paying factory jobs, creating a situation similar to Manila. -Shaun Ryan
– Like I said earlier, that line completely illustrates how the workers are alienated from their work. It is especially displeasing to see people treated like that, certainly when comparing their lifestyle to that of a typical American person at that age. Furthermore, the value of computers and the internet to education and learning is immeasurable. It is getting to the point where, in developed nations, it is nearly impossible to find products that are not made by disadvantaged workers.
I found that it is pretty crazy and that these workers are being so exploited. People should not be able to take advantages of people like this. Paying them barely anything for them busting there ass all day everyday. And after all of the work they do, we end up just throwing the computers away, and get new one all year. Not only are we just wasting the material/ the workers time but we then take all of the trash to a 3rd world country, just to destroy there land. It makes me mad that we are hurting their people and there land, and it is not even because of their people but us being greedy. Something has to change.
I found that it is pretty crazy and that these workers are being so exploited. People should not be able to take advantages of people like this. Paying them barely anything for them busting there ass all day everyday. And after all of the work they do, we end up just throwing the computers away, and get new one all year. Not only are we just wasting the material/ the workers time but we then take all of the trash to a 3rd world country, just to destroy there land. It makes me mad that we are hurting their people and there land, and it is not even because of their people but us being greedy. Something has to change.
My biggest problem is not only does the government allow the illegal working of these children but then to allow the exporting of the toxic materials to the countries that they bring the workers in from. I cant believe the government allows industries like this to stay. My parents own a small business and inspectors will dock them points for even the smallest infraction but as Katie was saying about the circus, this shit just goes unregulated in other places. Another thing that pisses me off is that what many people have mentioned about the computer businesses, not only are they outta date 6 months after you buy them, but most of the software on a new computer is all trial software and you have to buy the real program after spending so much money to buy the computer.
Exploitation of the poor and working class is no new issue with American corporations. As wrong as it may be to hear about a 17 yr old girl who puts together a computer that she doesn't even know how to operate, it is something that is unlikely to change in the near future. I feel they justify this treatment with the profit they make off this exploitation. In this capitalist economy where the focus is on profit and making the most money, it is not rare to see large corporations turn to third world countries for cheap labor.
It is really a shame that those workers are explited like that. However, better them then us. At least its not in our country and our workers arn't being forced into that. Even though we reep the benefits from them i feel like that is just one of the benefits from living in the country that we do. Yeah the computers will be thrown away eventually but i feel no guilt becuase if it wasnt' us using them it just be somone else. Will C
The story was a good illustration and the fact that it is a true story makes it more shocking.Its funny because we have the reverse process that they have, they make them but don't know how to use them,and we use them and either don't know how to make them or know where they come from. Its like a double separation process from the product.
What's crazy is that not only are these workers (teen workers none-the-less) being exploited for cheap labor to make others BILLIONS, but once we dispose of these electronics, the majority (according to Greenpeace 80%) of them get sent back to the same third world countries where we then exploit and damage their environment with toxic materials and wastes. Why can't a company that's going to do such horrendous acts at least show them how to work a damn computer or hell, give them one to learn by themselves. It's beyond ridiculous-- people suck!
ReplyDeleteThese workers are truly alienated from the product of their labor. I believe if Marx was alive today he would punch Bill Gates in the face. The crappy things about computers is that they are obsolete in 6 months after buying one. This fact just makes the demand for more increase, and in turn makes these poor countries work even harder. It's really a shame that many of the workers have no idea what a computer is.It reminds me of the bead workers having no idea what they were used for. Maybe if these workers sabotaged some of the product like Marx says happens with some alienated workers, maybe they would consider changing some of the working conditions or benefits. Damn You Microsoft!
ReplyDeleteWe use all this "stuff" and have no idea how it's made. Then when this "stuff" gets broken we throw it away or pay someone a lot of money to fix the "stuff". Since, I have been taking sociology class for the past year and a half, I am noticing how alienation is happening within different companies.
ReplyDeleteThis is also a little off topic but it really bothers me to the point were I want to write. This past week my mother and I took my nephew to the circus in our hometown. We only went so my nephew could see the elephant. While we were waiting for the elephant, we saw so much child labor happening after each act. They were picking my mats that were bigger than them as well as carrying different equipment. I just couldn't believe my eyes.
Chris Rivera
ReplyDeleteAlienation of the worker is inevitable in capitalist society. When the competition between businesses becomes too high it leads to outsourcing into third world countries. Unfortunatley, these places are poor and full of people well below the poverty line. So they have to work any job they can and it is usually for less than any U.S. worker would even consider. Furthermore, the countries do not have laws that protect workers or prevent child labor. So teens are hired to make these computers under harsh conditions and then they are sold to consumers like us. Who purchase things based on desire without realizing what went in to making it. We know how to use computers and the majority of us are dependant on them. We also feel the need to have the best products so we continiously buy the most advanced products. Then we throw them out and pollute the enviroment when they become obsolete. With all these things in mind I can understand why we send our computers to repair shops and use tech support. Companies set things up to make as much money as possible and they try to portray a need for these things. The majority of people are too quick to take the easy solution rather than putting matters into their own hands. My has crashed 3 times and I called tech support each time. After being charged my third time I decided to take notes on what the person was saying. I then copied all the files that he had left on my computer and stored them in a drive. Since then, I have not had to call tech support. It might seem wrong to some people but I did pay for the guidance and the files so I should be allowed to keep them. I think people just need to take a different approach to how we operate in this economy. People need to make themselves aware of these things and take the appropriate consuming measures to avoid products of cheap labor as well as being smarter about their products.
Katie: Its difficult to monitor child labor abuse in the US without crossing lines. What some call child labor (and probably truly is) abuse other call helping with the family business...I understand your frustration completely.
ReplyDeleteChris R: Great responses. I think one of the first issues is definitely being educated. I can say that learning more and more has helped me to make better decisions...although I'm nowhere NEAR the no impact guy!
"Alienation" is simply a by-product of greed and competition, it's not like the example given of this happening in a third world country is any different than the experiences of many of the factor and industrial workers found here in the US. If you really want to know the details of your labor, you can find out; most laborers choose not to ask about the contents of their labor. As I've said in the past, if the dark-side of consumerism bothers you, then buy used items and quit supporting new industry (it's that easy). A recession is not a product of failure within the economic system of the United States, it is a sign of progress and awareness; an awareness that cannot be used as profit figures for the major players on Wall-Street. So say it loud and say it clear..."Crash the System." weston
ReplyDeleteHaha "Crash the System" is right Weston. I just finished watching the new Michael Moore film, Capitalism:A love Story (everyone should see it!) and I was so taken back by all the exploitation and manipulation taking place with in our economic and political system. Our middle and working classes are basically being raped of everything that is rightfully thiers. However I think that interchangably we are seeing a stronger fight against institutional injustices which have weakend and divided socio-economics in society.Unionizations=revolt Aka "revolution!"
ReplyDeleteAlienation is nothing new in the work force and its almost always the poor that are part of the out group that get exploited. And in order for the exploitation to occur they alienated them. When people are alienated, they start feeling hopelessness because they feel as though they have nothing. The job and its reward, money, seem like the only thing that they have and so they work harder. Its been a trend in U.S. history, the only difference with the past is that as time went by there were more rules as to how to treat workers in the U.S. and so companies found a way to take it over seas.
ReplyDelete-- They also don't want their workers educated because then they can challenge the authority of the companies.
I agree with Mendez...exploitation of the poor class has always been an issue in the US. Whether it happens here or overseas, something should be done about it. It's a shame that companies pay these people next to nothing to make parts for our computers that we just can't live without....and they don't even know how to use them...or worse yet...they built a McDonalds down the street, and these workers don't make enough money to eat there! Then we just trun around and destroy their environment as a reward for all the hard work they gave us....sucks!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGeorge- Alienation is a part of capitalism nowadays... regardless if you are in the States or a third world country you could easily find underpaid, over worked, and workers who are extremely alienated from their job. Yes, in third world countries it is more prevalent and mush more extreme, but I don't think much will be done to change this. I feel that it is very wrong what is going on and a crazy/upsetting fact that these situation are out there but knowing what kind of society we live in, it is us who we have to blame. We live in a throw away society who wants the newest thing even if the only difference between the "old" model and the new one is that the new one has a new shiny trim on it, big companies know this about our society and are simply trying to benefit from it. I feel the solution has to start somewhere and it should start with us as consumers. The alienation that goes on in these third wold countries and the fact that these workers are so young is very upsetting and disturbing. Just look back at your life when you were 13 and now imagine doing what these kids have to go through
ReplyDeleteJames said:
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed a bit of unfortunate circumstances these workers find themselves in. It is completely unimaginable that anyone in the world (save for the very primitaive societies) is still without basic computer skills, yet they make them. I am not naive nor do I live in a bubble and I do know how lacking some parts of the world are, it's just so crazy to think about all the simplicities we take for granted. However unfortunate we all may think this these workers are, it's simply just how things are done. I am all for change and I wish things for humainty would treat each other better but we are a ways away from that. This issue is a philosophical/moral issue. This is a right and wrong, good and bad. I think we are looking at this the wrong way.. Philosiphers look at it from this perspective, Sociologists should look at it from a cause and effect stand point and not the right and wrong aspect. I do agree that these workers got the shit end of the stick as far as the lottery of life goes but without drastic change this is how it will be. Don't forget, conditions in west were once this way. James
The fact that a 17 year old girl dosen't know how to operate the computer she assembles is not the only unsetteling part of that story. Most Americans, including college graduates, can't even tell you how a computer works, but can efficiently opperate one. I think if that girl had the means to own a computer she likely wouldn't be assembling them. And if computers were made in the U.S., they would be much more expensive, making them less affordable. Less people would have them, most likely those with low paying factory jobs, creating a situation similar to Manila. -Shaun Ryan
ReplyDelete– Like I said earlier, that line completely illustrates how the workers are alienated from their work. It is especially displeasing to see people treated like that, certainly when comparing their lifestyle to that of a typical American person at that age. Furthermore, the value of computers and the internet to education and learning is immeasurable. It is getting to the point where, in developed nations, it is nearly impossible to find products that are not made by disadvantaged workers.
ReplyDeleteTom K.
I found that it is pretty crazy and that these workers are being so exploited. People should not be able to take advantages of people like this. Paying them barely anything for them busting there ass all day everyday. And after all of the work they do, we end up just throwing the computers away, and get new one all year. Not only are we just wasting the material/ the workers time but we then take all of the trash to a 3rd world country, just to destroy there land. It makes me mad that we are hurting their people and there land, and it is not even because of their people but us being greedy. Something has to change.
ReplyDeleteDan C:
ReplyDeleteI found that it is pretty crazy and that these workers are being so exploited. People should not be able to take advantages of people like this. Paying them barely anything for them busting there ass all day everyday. And after all of the work they do, we end up just throwing the computers away, and get new one all year. Not only are we just wasting the material/ the workers time but we then take all of the trash to a 3rd world country, just to destroy there land. It makes me mad that we are hurting their people and there land, and it is not even because of their people but us being greedy. Something has to change.
Josh G.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem is not only does the government allow the illegal working of these children but then to allow the exporting of the toxic materials to the countries that they bring the workers in from. I cant believe the government allows industries like this to stay. My parents own a small business and inspectors will dock them points for even the smallest infraction but as Katie was saying about the circus, this shit just goes unregulated in other places. Another thing that pisses me off is that what many people have mentioned about the computer businesses, not only are they outta date 6 months after you buy them, but most of the software on a new computer is all trial software and you have to buy the real program after spending so much money to buy the computer.
Exploitation of the poor and working class is no new issue with American corporations. As wrong as it may be to hear about a 17 yr old girl who puts together a computer that she doesn't even know how to operate, it is something that is unlikely to change in the near future. I feel they justify this treatment with the profit they make off this exploitation. In this capitalist economy where the focus is on profit and making the most money, it is not rare to see large corporations turn to third world countries for cheap labor.
ReplyDelete-Rick Schmelyun
It is really a shame that those workers are explited like that. However, better them then us. At least its not in our country and our workers arn't being forced into that. Even though we reep the benefits from them i feel like that is just one of the benefits from living in the country that we do. Yeah the computers will be thrown away eventually but i feel no guilt becuase if it wasnt' us using them it just be somone else.
ReplyDeleteWill C
The story was a good illustration and the fact that it is a true story makes it more shocking.Its funny because we have the reverse process that they have, they make them but don't know how to use them,and we use them and either don't know how to make them or know where they come from. Its like a double separation process from the product.
ReplyDelete