Why do you automatically assume that union workers in North America aren't exploited? You must not be sufficiently far left to have heard the argument that since the rampant union-busting of the 70s Union Management is often as bad as Management Management when it comes to taking advantage of the labourer.
I'm actually a union organizer, so I know all about the issues of American unions. If you have a problem with the local, it's probably due to apathy with the union politics. The major problems facing internationals now is that they are spineless and would rather bend over than fight.
Unions like the UE and IWW are a lot better about this, but they lack the pull of the AFL-CIO.
But you have no respect for the unions in Europe? Some are rather better than the ones in North America when it comes to looking after their workers, you know?
Lots of respect for them, as well as South Korean unions, but being as their products are less available and I am myself an American Union worker, I look for US made first.
Actually, I'm just terribly precocious. That's my actual picture in the avatar.
Exactly why would you white knight a horrible and oppressive regime, then?
What do you mean by "profiting off of exploitation"? How many jobs can you name that are not somehow profiting off of someone who's being exploited?
For instance, what do you do? (My history is all over these boards.)
I mean that since you live in Hong Kong, chances are good you are in an industry which is directly oppressing third world workers for massive profits.
Work need not be oppressive, that is why labor unions and socialist economics were invented, the problem is the ability and/or desire to implement these solutions.
As for myself, I was a Police Officer for many years, then I resigned due to horrible corruption of the force. I now work as an Electrician for a charity group that renovates and upgrades the homes of the poor in this region. We are especially focused on the Indian Reservations.
I'm sure all those people who aren't dying of exposure now think me an oppressor.
And why would my English skills lead you to make any assumption whatsoever as to the fact that I profit from the exploitation of others. As to your comment on sociopathic? Well, I just bolded that for you. I think people should sometimes be fed their regurgitated material when they're mouthing hyperbole just as a matter of course.
The fact that you speak perfect English in a country that does not speak it means you are either a foreigner or a wealthy and well connected Chinese, either of which makes even more sense in Hong Kong. This would also explain why you're sticking up for a nation that uses mobile execution vans to kill the homeless prior to the Olympics, and seems to think driving tanks through crowds of protesters in Tibet is perfectly acceptable riot control.
I could keep going on, actually. Amnesty International has lots on China.
Are any of the workers forced to work there?
Yes.
Are any of the workers held prisoner, unable to leave their job?
Yes.
Are any of the workers beaten, starved, dehydrated or provided with terrible living conditions?
Yes.
No? Then you don't know what you're talking about.
Yeah, me, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and countless other NGOs and watchdog groups are all morons, only the mighty intellect of Taffer can prevail.
