Anyone else hate supporting china?

[Ack]

So...essentially, because they cheaply mass produce an item that could previously only be found in specific stores, sometimes only in specific regions or small areas, and because this drives small businesses out of business, they're bad? So, have you found alternatives to using them? And is it also possible that Internet sales might have played a part in the process?

And for the second part, financial corporations are bad because they have been unable to recall the loans made by people who bought real estate they couldn't afford, since legally the government requested they do it and then looked the other way whenever they did something wrong? To me, as far as AIG and BOA is concerned, I see that as more a failure on all parties, government, corporate, and the people. Personally, I see that as similar to the failure of the Japanese economy in the 1990s. Government was too heavily involved in the corporations, bending laws and helping to artificially inflate business all through the 1970s and 1980s until the bubble burst and it finally caught up with them. It was a failure on the parts of all parties, and Japan had difficulty recovering. I see what we did with our housing market as similar.

[corn619]

One more thing, I work for a natural gas utility and it used to be a small local nat. gas supplier called Prov Gas. A large British corporation called National Grid bought us a few years ago and has ruined what was so great about the company. The pride and high morale that instilled my union brothers has been slowly beaten down by this awful company. They outright put the safety and service of the customer in the backrow in a effort to line their greedy pockets. Our union is currently fighting this dangerous spineless business practice. The personal touch and relations we used to have with our customers is ruined due to policies this company has introduced. Big business sucks period. And we all suffer from there poor, greedy business practices.

[Ack]

I don't know. Personally, I don't necessarily think that it's business that sucks, I'd say it's more a lack of competition. Monopoly sucks. Especially in a utility industry like natural gas, which is almost required. Does your company have any competition in your area? Every utility company I've ever known put its customer service in the back row, mainly because there were no alternatives to go to.

[corn619]

So...essentially, because they cheaply mass produce an item that could previously only be found in specific stores, sometimes only in specific regions or small areas, and because this drives small businesses out of business, they're bad? So, have you found alternatives to using them? And is it also possible that Internet sales might have played a part in the process?

And for the second part, financial corporations are bad because they have been unable to recall the loans made by people who bought real estate they couldn't afford, since legally the government requested they do it and then looked the other way whenever they did something wrong? To me, as far as AIG and BOA is concerned, I see that as more a failure on all parties, government, corporate, and the people. Personally, I see that as similar to the failure of the Japanese economy in the 1990s. Government was too heavily involved in the corporations, bending laws and helping to artificially inflate business all through the 1970s and 1980s until the bubble burst and it finally caught up with them. It was a failure on the parts of all parties, and Japan had difficulty recovering. I see what we did with our housing market as similar.

We have the oil and propane companies as competition. We used to put peoples safety first until we were bought out. We installed, serviced and inspected heating equipment and appliances 24 hrs a day, checked customers piping for leaks. And really went above and beyond most companies as far as treating the customer with respect. I think we did it better and were different than most utilities because of this. All I know Ack is the world was a better place without these large companies. People had jobs with fair wages. For example, a banker used to be a good paying job, now it pays barely above minimum wage. And most of the jobs BOA has is now overseas. I know my fiance is a victim of outsourcing and she worked in account security. And your right about a failure by all parties. Our government is just as corrupt and shitty as the corporations they bend over and pander to. Personally, I hope a lot of these large companies fall during this recession. People will be better off in the long run. I guess we could debate this all night. I tend to be a person that cares about people, and quality of life. Not big business. And yes, monopoly sucks.

[Ack]

I don't know, I don't see business as necessarily evil in itself, the same as I don't see a union as evil, though unions can just as easily go bad. I don't believe just because a corporation is big that it is going to put people down, I think it comes down to who runs it and how they run it. Look at Wal-Mart. While Sam Walton lived, it was different, and Walton did what every American dreamed of. He built a vast fortune and a big company out of a tiny shop he owned. And though at one point he was considered the richest man in America, he always drove the same beat up truck to work. He took part in numerous charities, and the people of China(since that's what this thread is about) even gave him a medal for developing some of those factories that we all seem up in arms about.

Ultimately this all comes back to people. There are good people, and bad people. Try to be one of the good ones, and try to surround yourself with good ones. That's the best we can hope for, I suppose.