[Jewelry making - Article 00439] - Re: [Orchid] Weapons of mass-destruction

[Refined Designs]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


    When people keep talking about the so-called great prices at
    Wal-Mart, etc, they're kidding themselves if they think what they
    pay is their actual cost. All of us, Wal-Mart shoppers as well as
    those of us who don't shop there, subsidize Wal-Mart's price cutting
    tactics when we pay more in taxes for the employees who don't make a
    living wage and need government assistance, as well as when we pay
    more in insurance when those employees need medical attention
    because they don't have sufficient health insurance. That's a start
    - there are others much better informed than I am about the cost
    incurred when we only look at the "bottom line". 

    What really frosts me about Wal-Mart is how it hurts people: when
    they come into a town and put certain viable, ethical companies out
    of business because these smaller companies just can't compete with
    the prices, when those prices are driven by what seems to be more
    and more of a monopoly forcing those making the goods to accept
    smaller and smaller profits... I'll never forget seeing on Bill
    Moyer's show several months ago (Friday nights on PBS, called "NOW"
    - a little plug here - I really believe everyone who can should do
    themselves a favor and watch it at least once!) they showed women in
    some third world country sewing soles on shoes for pennies a day,
    just barely enough for them to live on, and the large corporation
    (Nike, through Wal-Mart I think) cutting even that paultry sum down,
    so they can save a couple pennies more for us customers. Whether we
    feel it or not, we're all connected on this planet, and what hurts
    destitute families one one side of the planet, hurts those on the
    other side too. 

    So actually I'm thinking it all boils down to us. Wal-Mart and the
    others can do what they want and have every "right" to do it as long
    as it's legal, but it's up to each one of us to make our own
    choices. If we say yes to these companies, they'll thrive. If we say
    no, they'll die. I guess I'm sounding judgmental and I don't want to
    do that. Everyone makes their own choices, it just seems to be
    harder these days to be accurately informed. (And that's a whole
    'nuther story!) 

Sorry I ranted so long.
Cindy Crounse
Refined Designs Original Fine Jewelry


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________