[Jewelry making - Article 00068] - Re: [Orchid] Why is it so hard?

[Trevor F]

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>     But you're totally mistaken that there is "an ocean of shoddy goods
>     and few alternatives" or that there ever will be such a situation. 

Hello James,

    Well, from my experience that situation can and does exist, right
    now.  I've lived and worked in the US, Canada and now Europe.  The
    situation in Canada and the US is pretty similar so let's speak of
    them as one for this particular discussion. 

    In Europe, overall I'd say that what you see out in the marketplace
    is about 20% regular, cheapo, mass produced stuff, 50% pretty good
    quality but at higher prices than are typical in North America and
    about 30% luxury-level goods. 

    In North America it seemed more like 60% cheapo stuff, 20% mid-level
    and say, 20% luxury. It's my guess-timate that this applies to almost
    every single area of goods that a person comes in contact with except
    possibly computer related stuff which is incredibly homogeneous
    across the two market places. 

    Like I said, it's an ex-pat truism here in Europe: everything is more
    expensive --well, not really everything but certainly most things--
    but the quality is better.  In general people pay more, receive higher
    quality stuff than you would on average in North America, and they
    simply buy fewer goods overall.  It's not an economic or political
    theory, it's just the way things are. 

>     The bottom line, and my point, is still that WE don't OWE anyone a
>     living wage for whatever they CHOOSE to do. 

    I couldn't agree more. However you had said "why should they?" and
    implied that the consumer was wise and capable by virtue of their
    pocketbook. That is the statement I responded to, and disagreed with
    then and now. I'm not saying anyone should tell them how to spend
    their money. I am saying that they might want to consider the results
    of the _way_ they spend it because whether they realize it or not
    their way of spending will mold their economy and change the very
    marketplace they are a part of. 

Cheers,
Trevor F.

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