taylor@hplabsc.UUCP (Dave Taylor) (07/01/86)
-------- This article is from amd!amdcad!phil (Phil Ngai) and was received on Tue Jul 1 02:50:15 1986 -------- >The growth in inexpensive microcomputers in the >United States is possible, in part, because the chips used for memory >and processing are being built in places like Guatemala and the >Philippines by low paid labor working in who knows-what kind of >conditions. My Macintosh at home is bought for a price that is not >completely measured in dollars. I am responsible for the effects >(beneficial or otherwise) on people in small countries. I don't think you are aware of the true situation or have thought this through. American overseas manufacturing pays their foreign workers very well, as compared to the general standard of living in the country they are located in. It may be "low paid" by American standards but you can not apply American standards. The cost of living is much less. As long as the wages offered are at or above market rates the companies are not doing anything wrong morally in my opinion. It is not the role of American companies to change the world. They are there to make money. They have an obligation to treat their workers fairly but they have no obligation to deal in charity. The "natives" are usually quite eager to get a job working for the Americans. Companies do not go out into the villages and round up workers at gunpoint. They just have to advertise high paid jobs in air conditioned buildings and people are happy to leave their old jobs pumping water or weeding fields by hand . And with their wages they buy electric water pumps and such things. Everyone gains. I must admit I work at a company with foreign operations. However, I am not an official spokesman for my company. This article is merely my personal opinion. I hope you can consider my words in an objective light despite this. -- Phil Ngai +1 408 749 5720 UUCP: {ucbvax,decwrl,ihnp4,allegra}!amdcad!phil ARPA: amdcad!phil@decwrl.dec.com