Re: FISA minimum weights (again !)


Jeremy Fagan wrote:
> paul_v_smith@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > Carl Douglas wrote:
> >
> >>Neil Wallace <rowing.golfer*NOSPAM*@virgin.net> writes
> >><snip>
> >>
> >>>the only real argument against buying a
> >>>Chinese made boat is one of the conditions and human rights of the
> >>>workers.... but to my simple politically naive mind, I don't see how not
> >>>buying their product will improve their situation one bit.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>Obviously I have an axe to grind, so please make due allowance for what
> >>follows.
> >>
> >>We in the UK have hard won regulations & social security provisions
> >>which were introduced & are enforced in order to ensure the proper &
> >>safe treatment of employees & of the environment, plus a range of other
> >>benefits. These measures have costly consequences for us all, & for all
> >>western manufacturers. Those costs are inevitably reflected in the
> >>prices of manufactured goods, as another part of the implied contract
> >>which binds together the community or nation.
> >>
> >>The Chinese have none of these overheads, some of their industrial
> >>practices make the flesh creep, machinery regulations don't apply, wages
> >>are far lower & you can forget about social or job security. So they
> >>can & do manufacture far more cheaply.
> >>
> >>This results, at present, in the very antithesis of fair competition.
> >>In rowing, giving the other guy a 500m start is the same as giving him
> >>the race. In industry the effect is no different.
> >>
> >>If one has no qualms over the consequences for fellow citizens, the
> >>people we rub shoulders, whose earnings provide our earnings and who
> >>provide some of the services & goods our fine entrepreneurs cannot yet
> >>out-source to low-cost economies, then I'm sure it is fine to buy from
> >>sweat shops. Similarly if we are content for the standard of living and
> >>prospects of gainful employment of our off-spring will be less promising
> >>than our own. We may even kid ourselves that by buying from such
> >>systems we are doing a great social good; however the real effect is
> >>usually to destroy a viable form of existence there & replace it with an
> >>industrial servitude from which a very few dominant individuals get
> >>stinking rich at the expense of the health & well-being of all the rest.
> >>
> >>For myself, I am not sure that this is the right way to go, more like
> >>great way to level most of us down rather than to lift them up. And
> >>those who favour it seem not to be working from any altruistic motive.
> >>Far better, IMHO, would be that we insist & ensure that goods we buy
> >>from overseas are manufactured under conditions not too dissimilar to
> >>those under which we live & work, & that the environmental consequences
> >>thereof are not too dissimilar. Then we won't find ourselves buying
> >>flowers from African countries which are grown at the cost of the health
> >>& livelihood of the formerly viable agrarian economy. Nor buying
> >>fiercely expensive coffee for which the growers get nothing. Nor buying
> >>substandard but cheap milk from supermarkets which comes from foreign
> >>farms which operate at far lower health standards than those enforced on
> >>local dairymen and buy at below the local cost of production.
> >>
> >>So, if we continue to accept unduly cheap imported alternatives for all
> >>we can & do presently make here, who will employ us or our offspring
> >>when those businesses have gone? And will the last person out please
> >>switch off all the lights?
> >>
> >>Cheers -
> >>Carl
> >>--
> >>Carl Douglas Racing Shells -
> >> Fine Small-Boats/AeRoWing low-drag Riggers/Advanced Accessories
> >>Write: The Boathouse, Timsway, Chertsey Lane, Staines TW18 3JY, UK
> >>Email: carl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Tel: +44(0)1784-456344 Fax: -466550
> >>URLs: www.carldouglas.co.uk (boats) & www.aerowing.co.uk (riggers)
> >
> >
> >
> > I can see where this is may cause some rethinking to go on. I'm
> > working on finding out a bit more on the conditions at Swift Boats
> > manufacturing (The photos I've seen so far show very nice looking
> > equipment, and workshops), so I will be able to address the
> > implications accurately, but one thing that I am certain about is that
> > they are producing boats with fully enclosed underseat compartments as
> > a standard configuration, so may well be able to claim to be "Leading
> > the way in producing the safest Racing Shells available.". They also
> > appear to have a very good "shine factor". [;o)
> >
> > - Paul Smith
> >
> The Chinese government also conveniently hasn't floated their currency
> on the open currency markets, instead linking it artificially to the
> dollar, meaning that it can be kept low and good for exports. Would be
> interesting to find out what happens to their economy if it ever changes...
>
> Jeremy

Economists in the USA are actually now saying that if floated the
Chinese currency would not move more than 4% whch the dollhas against
the pound in the last 10 weeks.

The cost of living and the accepted standard of living, eg no tv's,
cable, cars, dishwashers etc, means that the Chinese can provide a very
good work environment an still significantly undercut the west.

Its called globalization and the redistrubution of wealth. Basically
western workers have had it very good for a long time and now its
changing. there is nothing bad about the working conditions for Indian
accountants working for global banks in India. They are exceptionally
happy earning 1/3 of a UK ACA and live like kings. until wealth is moer
evenly distrbuted this flow of jobs to those who are prepared/able to
work for less will go on.

Of course Carl is upset. Many Chinese busineses do have poor work
conditions but many are fine and just very competitive. I suspect he is
guessing as regards the Swift factory.

Look at Dyson.....he moved his factory. He can pay people much less
than the UK but they are delighted to move from a field to a factory
and 2x their pay.

We would love to think its sweat shops and child labour but the facts
are a lot of western busineses are setting up factories with high
standards.

I say again...redistribuion of wealth and the consumer in the west is
doing this. Sadly it means the there will be in the west a further gap
between blue and white collar workers.

.

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