In Reply to: Consumerism - however cheap - will cost us all in the end posted by The Book on June 27, 1996 at 18:21:39:
> At last somebody with some sense ! The problem lies NOT with
> just one corporation but with SOCIETY. The increasing growth
> of consumerism and the "I want it so I'll get it" attitudes of
> everday people that causing the problem.This is exactly the point. While people demand cheap consumer
products, regardless of the enviromental cost, the suffering to
animals, the exploitation of people etc. then somebody will
always be willing to supply (be it a multinational like McDonald's or some small black market
criminal).> If every customer of McDonalds cared that much about the
> environment or the conditions of workers it is THEM that
> need change there attitudes.Also true. This is why it is so important that people like
the McLibel defendents are able to expose the real cost
of the products and services that we use, so that WE can
choose not to buy them and choose more ethical or
enviromentaly sound alternatives. We, the consumers, have
the power to make the suppliers change.> As anyone who has ever worked in a McDonalds will know
> ( And I bet that the McLibel two never have ) that the
> hardest part of Working at McDonalds is dealing with
> who do not care about anything other than THEIR self
> satisfaction.This is an uncalled for attack on the McLibel two, who you
obviously do not know anything about. McLibel is a defence
of the worker, why do you attack them on this point?> The point to all this is that actions such as Mclibel do
> little to help either side. What EVERYBODY should be
> doing is realising that the consumerist way of life -
> however cheap - will cost us all in the end.I can't believe that you hold the anti-consumer views that
you outline here and yet attack McLibel. Take a look at the
McSpotlight web site and you will find links to many sites
highlighting the problems of consumer culture.McLibel is a direct attack on the consumer culture and yet
you see fit to attack McLibel and defend McDonald's.
I don't understand where you are coming from.
None.