> We're not talking $1 a day subsistance farmer when we talk free trade agreements.
Yes, you are.
He is part of the same local economy and by placing a cost on those higher up the chain, you will affect him just as much.
> Indeed, $1000 in safety equipment means almost nothing to these companies, but they'll only do it if we force them to.
If that was the case, they wouldn't have out-sourced the manufacturing to begin with. They wouldn't be buying expensive robots to replace that minimal-cost labor as we speak. Every penny counts.
> Our efficient free market system favors those that can reduce their costs of operations to the minimum level possible.
This is true, but to a point.
> If we don't make the rules of the playing field encompass these standards, everyone will be beholden to the guy that meets only the bare minimums, because he can sell his stuff the cheapest.
Frequently, consumers take many other factors into a purchase decision. Not just the price. If I know that a product was manufactured in a responsible manner, I'm willing to pay more for it.
If this wasn't the case, the organic movement wouldn't exist. Neither would the local-food movement.
People are willing to pay for higher quality goods and even identical goods that were manufactured in a more responsible manner.
Yes, you are.
He is part of the same local economy and by placing a cost on those higher up the chain, you will affect him just as much.
> Indeed, $1000 in safety equipment means almost nothing to these companies, but they'll only do it if we force them to.
If that was the case, they wouldn't have out-sourced the manufacturing to begin with. They wouldn't be buying expensive robots to replace that minimal-cost labor as we speak. Every penny counts.
> Our efficient free market system favors those that can reduce their costs of operations to the minimum level possible.
This is true, but to a point.
> If we don't make the rules of the playing field encompass these standards, everyone will be beholden to the guy that meets only the bare minimums, because he can sell his stuff the cheapest.
Frequently, consumers take many other factors into a purchase decision. Not just the price. If I know that a product was manufactured in a responsible manner, I'm willing to pay more for it.
If this wasn't the case, the organic movement wouldn't exist. Neither would the local-food movement.
People are willing to pay for higher quality goods and even identical goods that were manufactured in a more responsible manner.