Ethical Quote by Bruce Cannon Gibney
““The sociopathic society of consumption depends heavily on goods turned out by dismal sweatshops (e.g., Boomer Kathie Lee’s/Wal-Mart’s Dickensian workshops, Boomers Steve Jobs’/Tim Cook’s subcontracted factories, so depressing that they feature suicide nets to prevent employees from leaping to their deaths).23 Asking other countries to improve their labor conditions would not only be ethical, it would improve America’s competitive position. The only thing Boomers really ask for now, however, is that their purchases be cheap and the moral quandaries offshored.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Moral Cost of Cheap Goods”, 2015
Consumer demand for low prices fuels exploitative labor; improving global labor standards benefits ethics and U.S. competitiveness.
In simple terms: Cheap goods rely on poor labor; better standards help everyone.
Key Takeaway
Support ethical sourcing and higher wages.
Themes
economics
ethics
globalization
labor rights
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political
economic
When to use this quote
- Business strategy
- policy advocacy
- consumer education
- corporate social responsibility
Key Concepts
Supply chain ethics
consumer responsibility
corporate accountability
Questions to Reflect On
- Can consumers accept higher prices for ethical goods?
- How can policy incentivize fair labor?
A Different Perspective
Higher costs may reduce demand; market resistance to price increases.
