Good Evening World!!! The semester is winding down… I’m sitting here watching the Portland and Golden State game. I really don’t care who wins, but The Warriors make for better TV. Let me delve into this Ikea mess. I really cannot blame them completely, so check out my answers to these five questions.
The information in this article relates to chapter in that inequalities at a beloved company is exposed. The happenings at Ikea is a reason that the income gap is steady getting larger. These people are making way less money than they should. They are basically being exploited. This system is almost like a paid slave system. Globalization through capitalism is the main culprit of this system. I place majority of the blame on the United States. Our country has become so beholding to big business that we are basically throwing our citizens to them to do as they please. This leads to another point. The importance of organizing on jobs. Left up to the corporations, workers would probably work until death. It is sad that most of these employees still have to rely on government assistance. If they are not receiving assistance, they definitely qualify based off of their pay. To think that starting pay was dropped so significantly, from $9.75 to $8.00, just to give bonuses to the top earners is reprehensible. This is classic capitalism, take money and benefits from the poor to pay the rich. What is even more problematic is the fact that the United States government allows this behavior. It is no wonder the inequalities are as they are.
When I read of these practices my blood boils. It is not entirely Ikea’s fault. That is a by-product of capitalism in the global market. Companies look for ways in which to cut the cost of production, even at the expense of the workers who make the company tick. I place more of the blame on the United States government for allowing our citizens to be exploited in that way. Sweden knows how to treat their citizens. This is the environment in which the pro-business America has created. In a sense, you really cannot fault Ikea. The problem lies within our laws and culture. It is just ironic that the United States is viewed as other nations view Mexico.
These inequalities must be addressed. This is not the way the world was intended. These inequalities are not good for mankind. It does not promote harmony at all. This is a problem that the United States should take the lead in solving. Our country should be the example. If we treat our workers as they should, then other countries would have to do business with those standards. The people have spoken many times regarding inequalities. It is now time our government listen to us.
We as Americans must first hold our companies to those same standards. We cannot exploit other countries and cry wolf when we feel exploited. Honestly speaking, American companies are the top exploiters of workers. American companies jump at opportunities to exploit workers through cheap labor.
As I conclude, I must say that my eyes were opened in a sense. I feel challenged to hold American companies to the same standards as I am suggesting we do to others. As I am wearing my $200 Nike Air Jordans, it is time I really stand up and do the proper thing. That is to speak out about these inequalities. PEACE!
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