Labor Abuse - Comm 352

                I find that it is hard to sit back and watch as these conditions for working are even happening in this day and age.  I was very aware of Apple’s use of labor camps to distribute its product at such low rates, but to see Samsung in this same pathway is disgusting.  It almost brings into question what the CEO’s of each of these companies define as human life.  It seems as though they view their workers as disposable, easily replaceable peons who have no value or resource to the overall being of the company.  They see these workers as materials.  Using them until they cannot work any longer and replacing them as quickly as they came.  This is a scary thought that we, as Americans, do not need to waste any time fearing that our fate could match.
                But what if we did?  What if instead of using labor unions from other countries these factories were in our back yard?  If the question is “Will I still buy this product if American workers are the ones suffering”, I would say yes.  To me, the issue is not who is suffering, but just that the fact that these unfit conditions exist in any way.  Of course with the American mentality we would never stand for such conditions, and I believe that if one of these labor unions were to exist in America there would already have been riots, marches, and strikes all over the nation.  Americans tend to not pay attention to striking issues unless they are in our own backyard, but the turnout of caring citizens would be monumental. 
                I understand fully that the products we are buying come with the price of cruel labor, but at this point I would like to be presented an alternative.  Any normal person would agree that if they just improve conditions things would be better and everyone could go on happy.  Unfortunately if any more money were to be put into these unions the prices of our merchandise would increase.  Again, this would not affect me personally but from a consumer standpoint I can see why nobody says a word.  Once the price of the product increases people won’t even care about “improving the conditions” of these workers because they will immediately see the outcome of their “help”.  If it means paying a little more for these people to be treated like humans, I would be perfectly fine with that as I usually buy one of these products every other year or so.  But these hefty American consumers would rather help their wallet than the lives of people they don’t know, it’s like pulling teeth.  Unfortunately I can see why these companies have chosen the route they have.  I hope that we as a nation can step back, view the situation neutrally and do what we know is best for strengthening the world rather than just our own persons.  I’m sure if this was happening in our country we would want the support of other countries too.