The Bangladeshi Blood on America's Hands

[Fire Walk With Me]

The Nation ‏@thenation

The Bangladeshi Blood on America's Hands http://tnat.in/kzCjn


http://www.thenation.com/blog/174106/bangladeshi-blood-americas-hands

They are still digging up victims from the collapsed garment factory in Bangladesh—381 corpses and counting—while international media report the sickening details of crushed skulls and severed limbs and describe with sympathy the wildly distraught mourners searching the rubble for dead daughters. The Daka authorities arrested the greedy factory owner to save him from the mob. Sohel Rama, owner of the collapsed factory, blamed the pressures of global competition. He had no choice, he explained. Keep the sewing machines humming or else lose the contract.

If a country can’t keep wages and costs down, its production will be moved to the next poor nation willing to sacrifice its citizens in the name of economic advancement. This is what organized labor calls the “race to the bottom,” and unions have campaigned futilely for decades to stop it. Only there is no bottom, really, in the global food chain because the world has a vast backlog of very poor nations desperate for jobs and anxious to please the multinational companies that buy the cheap goods and rebrand them as J.C. Penny or Benetton or best-buy stuff at Walmart.

This is a very old story by now—these recurring tragedies of massive death for commerce. Bangladesh is getting good coverage because its carnage is likely setting new records. The grisly details will continue elsewhere for sure. Stories of thirty or fifty or 150 dead in industrial fires and other calamities are so routine, they begin to sound familiar and tiresome. We will see many more so long as fledgling enterprises in Asia and elsewhere are unwilling (or unable) to spend the modest sums required for routine safety measures.

For shame, Bangladesh. How can you people be so indifferent to human life? In America, we think life is precious. Don’t we? At least, we think American life is precious. Those strange foreigners should learn to look out for their own the way we supposedly do.

(More at the link.)

[SamKnause]

1. Blame

As a dirt poor U.S. citizen I am tired of getting the blame for everything that is wrong with this country.

I don't own a corporation that under pays it's workers and treats them less than human.

I don't own a lobbyist that writes the laws that favor corporations.

I don't own a lobbyist that pays bribes to our politicians to accomplish their goals.

I was not in favor of NAFTA or any free trade agreement that has since been passed.

I was not on the Supreme Court declaring that corporations now have more rights than living breathing humans.

I was against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I did not cause the global financial collapse.

I have been taken advantage of by every corporation I have worked for in the U.S.

I have never worked a 40 hour work week, if I was a union member or non union member. There was always FORCED overtime. I have never had a job that offered sick days.

My blood, sweat and tears ( literally and figuratively) enriched many CEOs and corporations.

4 of the corporations ( I have worked for 30 or more corporations in two states) went out of business. This trend started after NAFTA was passed.

Most moved to Mexico and other countries to take advantage of the workers and skirt safety and environmental issues.

I worked until I had a nervous break down from all of the abuse I suffered day in and day out at various jobs.

I am now a disabled dirt poor American that is reminded everyday that I am useless and a drain on society.

I was raised to believe that hard work is a virtue and you can accomplish great things if you work hard.

When the deck is stacked against you and the pile continues to rise higher, this is no longer true.

I worked as a cook floating up and down the Ohio River; (21 days on, 21 days off) average work day 14 hours. The tug boat was a brand new 4 and one half million dollar beauty. The captain requested there be no dishwasher on board. He stated if the boat had a dishwasher why would it need a cook ?

I worked as a rebar bender. Physically lifting 10 tons (20,000 pounds) per 10 hour shift six days per week.

I built freight cars which involved heavy lifting, climbing and bending for 8 hour shifts 6 days per week.

I worked hard.

Many of my jobs were very dangerous.

Where is the peace and tranquility I was promised in my golden years ????????

[limpyhobbler]

2. I feel like we all have a responsibility to do what we can to change the system that allows this.

It may be different things for different people. Maybe it's writing a letter to our Member of Congress, maybe it's talking about it with our friends, or marching in the street, or changing where we shop if we can afford to. I can't really afford to buy all made in the USA clothes but I try to get clothes at thrift stores like Goodwill instead of helping Walmart and those other stores with bad labor practices.

[demosincebirth]

3. Solution: stop buying good from companies that exploit foreign workers. We point fingers and there

will always be three pointing back at us. I know it's hard to pay for something that is higher priced that those made in impoverished countries, but think of the effect that will have on the Gaps, Nikes and all the other top brands that help create situation like in Bangladesh.