A Minority View: Exploiting Ignorance
By Walter E. Williams
"So many Americans graduate high school and college having learned what to think as opposed to acquiring the tools of critical, independent thinking. Likewise, they have learned little about our nation's history. As such, they fall prey to the rhetoric of political charlatans and quacks. Let's look at a couple of examples.
One of the arguments against international trade is that companies such as Nike and Gap Inc. exploit workers in Third World countries by paying them wages far lower than those that prevail in the U.S. and other developed nations. Are the workers being exploited? It all depends on how you answer the following question: If someone comes along and offers you an opportunity superior to any other that you have, is 'exploitation' an appropriate term to describe that offer?
Put more concretely, if a U.S. company pays a Cambodian $3 a day, when his next best opportunity -- digging through trash at a nasty dump -- yields 75 cents a day, has that company made him worse off or better off? If your answer is 'better off,' how can 'exploitation' be an appropriate term to describe the transaction?" Read more.
Excellent point, don't you think?
"So many Americans graduate high school and college having learned what to think as opposed to acquiring the tools of critical, independent thinking. Likewise, they have learned little about our nation's history. As such, they fall prey to the rhetoric of political charlatans and quacks. Let's look at a couple of examples.
One of the arguments against international trade is that companies such as Nike and Gap Inc. exploit workers in Third World countries by paying them wages far lower than those that prevail in the U.S. and other developed nations. Are the workers being exploited? It all depends on how you answer the following question: If someone comes along and offers you an opportunity superior to any other that you have, is 'exploitation' an appropriate term to describe that offer?
Put more concretely, if a U.S. company pays a Cambodian $3 a day, when his next best opportunity -- digging through trash at a nasty dump -- yields 75 cents a day, has that company made him worse off or better off? If your answer is 'better off,' how can 'exploitation' be an appropriate term to describe the transaction?" Read more.
Excellent point, don't you think?
posted by HeavyHanded at
9:21 PM
2 Comments:
Yes, it is an excellent point and one that Prof Williams has made before. The pity is that such a self evident point needs to made at all.
By
Anonymous, at 11:25 AM
Yes, a pity indeed.
Equally sad is the fact that I am sure that those who complain about our 'exploitation' still won't grasp Dr. Williams' point even after he makes it.
By
HeavyHanded, at 6:29 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home