10/04/2007
Economics, rationalizations, and long underwear
As far as confessional writing goes, this may be revealing, but I'm not sure how interesting it is. Read further at your peril.
I used to live way up near Canada; in the northern mountains of New Hampshire, to be exact. Six feet of snow on the ground for 6 months of the year, and don't touch the car door handle with your bare hand on a cold day. Utility trumps fashion in that environment, and I learned to love long underwear. To be precise: silk long underwear.
Silk is light, it's machine-washable, and it keeps me really warm without the feeling that I'm wearing a body sock; a feeling I get with most outdoorsy-type hiking underwear. And even though I no longer live in the country of the screamingly-cold weather, I'd rather wear silk longjohns under my normal lightweight cargo pants than wear lined pants with the comfort of armor plate. Just a personal preference; I'm not trying to sell anybody anything.
In a networked world, it's incredibly easy to buy this stuff. For years, I've patronized two large, online camping/outdoors retailers. One is located physically out West, the other, Campmor, is located about a ten minute drive from my house (now that I've moved to NJ).
Prices online are really better at the western store; four dollars cheaper per pair of longjohns than Campmor (although they're seconds, I've ordered them before, and they're fine). Since I was hunting for 2 pairs of bottoms and a long-sleeved top for myself, and a similiar order for a friend, the savings mounted up; $4.00 savings per item makes it a $24.00 difference. Even with shipping, I'd still save about $12.00, maybe more, since I drive to Campmor and pay NJ sales tax.
Oh, it seems like a no-brainer, all right; stay home, shop online, save time and money, luxuriate in the $12.00 savings.
You realize, of course, it's not that simple.
I've been patronizing both these establishments online for several years. Now that I live in the suburban wilderness, I shop at Campmor physically, but I still peruse both catalogues and check both company's websites for various items of technical clothing I talk myself into needing.
Now, the western company has a lot of good merch at seriously low prices; seconds, closeouts, and discontinued styles, mostly. If you spend much time dreamily thumbing through the catalogue, you'll notice (as I eventually did), a tiny notice in the description of the store: "Our business ethics must be consistent with the faith of the owners in Jesus Christ and His teachings." Look a bit further to the order form, and tucked into one corner it says:"Jesus said: 'I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.' John 10:10b."
Well, solid. I'm with that. They're about as discreet as they can be with their faith, they're not prosletyzing, and every dealing I've had with them has been fine, even the returns. No prob.
One day a year or two ago the thought struck me that this catalogue's wares are mainly made in China; some items are made in Taiwan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, with a handful of stuff made in the US, Cost Rica, and Mexico.
Now, everyone knows what the factories in China are like; the ones that the big manufacturers let tourists and inspectors see are well lit, well ventilated, and the employees might even make $50.00 a week. But the majority of the factories are nasty sweatshops, staffed with children, prisoners, and virtual slaves, working 7 days a week for maybe a buck a day. Is that consistent with Jesus and his teachings? Are those people having life to the full?
To show you what a rationalizing jerk I am up front, this didn't stop me from shopping there (or anywhere else, for that matter; if you don't buy clothes made in China, you're either very well-off or naked). But it bothered me to the extent that after several months, I sent this e-mail to the owner:
I've been a satisfied customer of [store name] for many years, and I recommend your store to all my friends.
I have a question regarding the sources of your clothing, and your store's philosophy. As far as I can tell (and I've done a bit of research about this), a great deal of the clothing I buy from you is produced by 1) child labor, 2) slave labor, or 3) virtual slave labor; either in China, elsewhere in Asia, or in Latin America. This sweatshop/prison labor could hardly be said to "Have life and have it to the full."
My question is: how have you reconciled yourself to this situation? It hardly seems compatible with Jesus Christ and His teachings.
I will remain a customer of yours no matter how you answer this question - but I'm searching for some reconciliation about this myself, and I thought I'd ask you.
Thanks very much,
Steven Stein
Well, I sent that off and assumed, after a week or two, that it fell into the hilarity file at the store's e-mail address. Too bad, I would have liked to see the answer.
And then I got this reply, from the head of the company:
Thank you for your recent email to our Customer Service Department. I value customer questions. You asked about the sources of our clothing and our philosophy. You said you think a great deal of the clothing you buy from [store name] is produced by child labor, slave labor, or virtual slave labor. You then asked how I have reconciled myself to this and said it hardly seems compatible with Jesus Christ and His teachings.
I have given a lot of thought, prayer, and Bible study to this issue. In addition, I have talked to missionaries who work in China and other third world countries, to American businessmen who frequently visit Chinese factories, and Chinese Christians who live in Singapore and Hong Kong, who frequently travel into China. I have read many articles on both sides of the issue, including everything that comes out of Focus on the Family and the affiliated Family Research Council. I should note that since 1977 I have spent on average two weeks a year in the Pacific Rim, mostly among ethnic Chinese with a considerable amount of time in Japan as well.
With this background of knowledge about China in particular, I will present my reasons for not boycotting third world products. They are not in any order of priority:
1.) Generally speaking, third world countries love business from the United States because it helps their economies. However, Americans tend to have a very skewed concept of conditions in other countries based on what is portrayed by an ignorant media or at least a media with a story to sell. Moreover, it is currently “politically correct” to picture United States retailers as exploiting third world manufacturers.
2.) I, myself, have been in China, so I have firsthand knowledge of this issue in that country. I have observed that it is average citizens, not prisoners or children, who make the goods for the outdoor industry. Our industry is very sensitive to this issue, and most of the vendors we buy from are in the factories and are very aware of who is producing their garments.
3.) In China, for example, economic reform has progressed tremendously during the past 20 years. With that reform has come a continual improvement in human rights and living conditions. We must keep doing business with China and other third world countries because the financial improvement of the average worker will lift expectations of their government and thus change will follow.
4.) The sewing industry is a perfect means for third world entrepreneurs to get into business. There is low investment required to enter this industry, labor is readily available due to high unemployment, and there is a ready market for export.
5.) The sewing industry reduces national debt as it builds export business, which helps the nation’s balance of trade, employs workers who are sub-subsistence in many cases, and helps increase the economy. A developing economy eventually results in more freedom and improvement in human rights issues.
6.) We live in a country with 3% unemployment. A person can generally find a job and earn enough to survive. In third world countries, 20% plus unemployment is not uncommon. In countries with high unemployment, a job means survival. Arbitrarily pulling production from such a country could have life-threatening results. I don’t believe that is an ethical response.
7.) When economies improve, skilled workers become in demand. They move to factories with better working conditions and wages. Thus, market forces in and of themselves work in favor of the workers over the long term. China is a perfect example of the validity of this cycle.
8.) I have searched the scripture to answer whether or not boycotts are a proper Christian response, and I have found no shred of evidence to support the use of boycotts or any other sort of economic or political pressure to force Christian values on a culture that does not respect them.
Instead, I find Jesus supporting the payment of taxes to a brutal government which didn’t need abortion because they allowed unwanted children to be exposed at birth to die, or to be taken by slave traders who raised the females as slaves and prostitutes or worse. I find the Gospel being spread by the bold personal witness of believers as their absolute first priority. I find significant passages by Paul, Peter, and James advocating the total support of the most brutal political system imaginable, and none advocating their overthrow, or even suggesting the formation of a Christian political power base.
The outdoor industry is one that requires highly detailed products made of very expensive fabrics to high levels of quality assurance. Only skilled workers in the best factories can produce such products. Unhappy workers in reprehensible working conditions cannot do the job. That may seem simplistic, but that is the truth.
Thank you again for your comments and for giving me the opportunity to explain my views. We look forward to continuing doing business with you in the future.
Best regards,
Well, I thought about that for a while. Not sure of my response, I asked the wife to take a look at it.
"That's a lotta horsepoop," she opined. I kind of agreed. It doesn't happen, I never saw it, the bible says it's okay, third world economies need help, the manufacturers know what's going on, abortion, Focus On The Family, prayer, missionaries, bible study; whatever. On the other hand, he did take the trouble to write me at length, and it didn't feel like a cannned response.
So I sent this back:
Thanks very much for your well thought out and detailed reply to my query.
I appreciate the visits and information you've used to come to terms with the labor situation that produces the clothes. I truly admire the quality of your faith that reinforces your actions.
My quandary remains unsettled. The sources I've consulted regarding the labor situation in Asia (China, especially) give me different information than what you receive from your sources.
My religious situation is different, as well. For me, religion begins and ends with one statement: Treat Thy Neighbor As Thyself. Everything else that I've seen - New Testament, Old Testament, Talmud, Koran, whatever - strikes me as commentary or rationalization.
When I apply my religious beliefs to the situation of sewing trades and garment labor, I'm faced with child labor and slavery (or something very close to it) in Asia, and widespread unemployment (due to the "demand" for a living wage) in the United States; all this exacerbated by the fact that the US government encourages the destruction of the economy here by giving tax incentives to businesses to take their jobs overseas. I wouldn't want to be treated the way my neighbors in Asia or my neighbors in the US are treated.
So I haven't made my peace with the situation, but I still need clothes.
Again, thanks very much for your considerate answer. I appreciate your time and effort.
Your customer,
Steve Stein
All that said (and at some length), this morning I drove over to Campmor to buy some long silk undies.
When I got back to my car after blowing a lot of money on undergarments, I found my left front tire flat as a pancake. I called the AAA, and while I was waiting in the unseasonably broiling sun and feeling way too sorry for myself - thinking about all the incredibly important stuff in my fast-track life that wasn't getting done while I was waiting for the AAA guy to come and put the stupid spare on my stupid car - one of the Campmor employees came out of the store and walked over.
Hey, you're car's really listing to the left. I think you got a flat tire.
Yeah, thanks. I saw it when I got in. I'm waiting for the triple A right now.
Well, I just wanted to make sure you didn't try to drive away on that. If there's anything you need, the phone, or something, come on in.
Thanks, I might need the bathroom if the truck doesn't get here soon.
Cool, just come on in.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
After about 20 minutes, the AAA truck showed up, and a really nice guy changed the tires and I rode off on the midget spare to my regular garage.
I'm still confused about the ethics of buying clothes, but I feel better about going to Campmor.
On the other hand, if I'd ordered the crap on the Internet, I might not have gotten a flat.