chain stores and spending habits

["David peckham" <bikosphere@hotmail.com>]

>From: WMSteed@aol.com
>To: dpalm@earthlink.net, wrparish@moscow.com
>CC: bill_london@hotmail.com, vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: Re: Alturas Park
>Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2000 20:19:24 EST
>

>
>I support local businesses but not to the exclusion of chains.  The best
>product at the best price is important to many of us.
>
    I hope this isn't redundant, but I want to say something about this 
"best product at the best price" as the bottom-line mentality.  It overlooks 
the most crucial element of values; how the product was created, who the 
ultimate benificiaries are of its sale, and what is done with that wealth.
    Those of us who deplore the growth of chains should boycott them.  I 
would rather pay more for product downtown than get it at the mall.  The 
trade-offs in my convenience and community support out-weigh the extra 
price.  If you spend money at the chain stores, you really shouldn't be 
complaining about them.
     Then there are the labor and environmental issues. I don't want to buy 
something that was made with sweatshop labor, or damages the environment.  
Shell Oil and Chevron are both guilty of serious environmental and human 
rights abuses in Nigeria, but which oil company does much better?  Liz 
Clairborne I hear is making imporovements in their sewing factories, while 
Wal-Mart is "dragging their feet."
     And those lovely redwood decks...

    Consumers should hold lots of power.  But we weren't taught ethics in 
economics classes, only the "best product at the best price."
dave peckham
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