Do you think US corporations should be subject to US labor laws while doing business

**Brian** · 07-02-2009, 06:13 PM

in third world nations? Given that corruption is so rife in these countries, it seems to me that it has been way to easy for the evil american corporations to just walk into a third world country and exploit its population; paying them only pennies on the dollar for their labor, in what amounts to be little more than sweatshops. If we forced these corporations to follow the same labor standards as in the US, wouldnt we be able to stop the unlawful exploitation of workers? Plus wouldnt it help our image in the world? One of the main reasons we are hated is because our companies come into other countries, pillage their resources and treat the workers like Sh**? So why dont we force them to follow the same labor laws as in the US?

PS Dont give me the BS excuse that it will make costs too high, when you pay some one 10 cents to make a shoe you sell for 40, i dont think paying some one 5 bucks will hurt the bottom line.

**Melissa Baker** · 07-02-2009, 06:15 PM

If we forced these corporations to follow the same labor standards as in the US, they will be quickly replaced by British German and Japanese corporations.

Stupid liberals.

**i_was_myself** · 07-02-2009, 06:16 PM

We don't have the means to enforce such behavior. Foreign countries will not do the work for us.

Just like Wisconsin has a tax law that states that any product you use in Wisconsin you have to pay sales tax for. If I buy 100 dollars worth of books in Iowa and read them in wisconsin, I'm suppose to pay $5.50 to Wisconsin according to wisconsin law. Except Wisconsin doesn't have any legal means to check what I've bought out of state.

The USA doesn't have any means to enforce any laws outside of the nation.

Personally I agree with you. This is what trade restrictions did when it was popular to have them. But then business lobbied for "free trade". And now they are lobbying to lower US labor standards to that of third world countries. All of those school, labor, and environmental programs are just no good "socialism" after all.

**Obamanable Faux Man** · 07-02-2009, 06:16 PM

When that 10 cents allows a person to live for a week, it's a little different.

Look up the Big Mac Index.

In Thailand for instance, you can get a hotel room on one of the most exotic beaches in the world on the water for $4 night. It's all relative.

I know liberals like to think we can make domestic policy w/o negative implications but we're not in the '30's anymore. We have to compete globally -- and to do so requires we operate w/in the rules of the global market. To burden our businesses is to leverage their competitive advantage and likely compromise their ability to do business -- costing not only the jobs overseas, but those middle-class management jobs domestically.

It's a balancing act -- we can't just impose all of our "wants" and not expect to get left in the dust.

Take Cap & Trade -- China, India and Brazil don't have that added input...they'll assume a greater share of the market do to that advantage...cheaper production/manufacturing cost. To ignore this relationship is slightly boneheaded.

Until we can make global market policy, leveraging our businesses only hurts our economic might in the long run and ultimately our position in the world.

**sean b** · 07-02-2009, 06:17 PM

No, because these other countries are glad to get the industry. Besides, all of this is negotiated with these multinational corporations before they set up shop in foreign countries.

07-02-2009, 06:18 PM

The US Govt . can demand that these Co.'s follow the same labor laws. It is easy ...you don't comply you can't import your s**hit into the US. Or they could always shove their goods up their a**ss.if they don't find a market in the economically depressed third world countries they are exploiting

**Doodle** · 07-02-2009, 06:18 PM

I absolutely agree. And, I think those same corporations should pay income taxes to the U.S. if any of their products are sold in the U.S. GM moved a plant to Mexico and paid the workers $4 a day. That's pathetic. And people wonder why so many Mexicans want to work in America.

**Case** · 07-02-2009, 06:19 PM

Absolutely, but they would never do that. It's all about what is the most profitable, and sadly they dont care about the working conditions of their workers so long as they profit from their labour.

**Thedude27** · 07-02-2009, 06:20 PM

lol, how? Honor system????...hahahahahahahahah. How about we just pass a law for N Korea for them to dismantle their nuke program oh yea and can we pass an equal rights bill for the middle east while we are at it? You realize they will just move HQ there right?

How about we just keep them here instead.