On ‘Last Week Tonight’ John Oliver observes that trendy clothes are cheaper than ever, which is great news for the people who buy them, but horrible for the people who make them.
John knows how to ruin a good shopping spree, by reminding us that child labor and sweat shops are the reason why greedy retailers can make such cheap goods and still rake in huge profits. There once was the option to ‘buy American’ but with U.S. made goods at only 2% of the total on store shelves, we’re unwittingly supporting horrible working conditions – and admittedly enjoying the low prices.
I realize that only an Obama voting, vegan, socialist traitor from the 47% would even suggest that those giant corporations are guilty of wrongdoing, or that they should lose more money to correct some perceived wrong. After all, “Corporations are people too, my friend.” If so, they are forgetful people. When a tragedy occurs, and our attention is drawn to the squalid, dangerous conditions, corporations inevitably claim to have had no knowledge that their product had been contracted to the unsafe facility. If only there was just some way- a way to communicate quickly, perhaps then major corporations could stay on top of their manufacturers – and those ‘contractors.’
John believes that we need to show them not only why we care, but why they Should care…With a little lesson in supply chain management. That is why the executives at H & M, Walmart, Joe Fresh, The Children’s Place and the GAP will enjoy lunch tomorrow courtesy of “Last Week Tonight.”
There are a few conditions according to Oliver: First. “I do not know exactly how this food was made. I told someone who may have told someone else to get the most food they could for the cheapest price – and they did that. ”
There are strict policies. ” I told them not to spit in that food, or to rub their balls on that food – and I’ve trusted them to abide by that. So I want you to look at this suspiciously cheap food that lands on your desk tomorrow , and I want you to F***ing eat it. And if you’re thinking, ‘well I can’t do that, I don’t know where it came from; what if someone rubbed their balls on it?'”
Then I don’t know what to tell you, other than ‘NOW do you understand the importance of supply chain management?”
The mini fashion show, which as advertised, uses the cheapest food available is an eye-opener. For instance a dress from The Children’s Place is shown at $14.95, and the ‘dirt cheap rotisserie chickens’ come in at $7.99 each.
When we look at the price of food and the price of clothing, we know in some part of our brain that the former continues to climb in price, because it’s not produced in a sweatshop in Bangladesh.