Fair Trade

[DavyDuke17]

Whats your opinion on buying fair trade goods?

 

[phixion]

I avoid them on purpose.

When they first started appearing here in the UK when I was still a young child, I always thought "How is that fair - giving special treatment to these producers - surely that's not fair for Kenco Coffee?".

We're seeing a lot of chocolate hitting the shelves here under the 'fair trade' label and I won't be having any part of it.

Fair is fair and fair trade products are not fair and I despise the marketing angle too. Feel good b*llocks.

Pete

 

[DavyDuke17]

I understand how fair trade can hurt those poorest producers that are not partners and what not, but is it not a good way to harness my power as a consumer into promoting environmental friendly products/practices and workers rights?

I don't really want something that alters the free market with price levels, but something so that I can identify environmental friendly and I guess 'ethical' companies in the market. Are there better alternatives for this?

 

[qaxn]

the first response has totally blown my mind.

so not only do you deny the legitimacy of labor leveraging its position but consumption leveraging its position? what the hell is a free market to you? purchasing at the barrel of a gun?
the only joy this discussion brings me as that you will soon be living under a pinochet-esque free market dictatorship. enjoy your freedom to consume, it's the only one you'll have.

edit: maybe i was being hard by including you, davyduke17. while i'm bewildered that you're bothered by the idea of artificial changes in prices to allow for different production practices, you don't seem too badly put off. sorry.

 

[DavyDuke17]

the first response has totally blown my mind.

so not only do you deny the legitimacy of labor leveraging its position but consumption leveraging its position? what the hell is a free market to you? purchasing at the barrel of a gun?
the only joy this discussion brings me as that you will soon be living under a pinochet-esque free market dictatorship. enjoy your freedom to consume, it's the only one you'll have.

edit: maybe i was being hard by including you, davyduke17. while i'm bewildered that you're bothered by the idea of artificial changes in prices to allow for different production practices, you don't seem too badly put off. sorry.

I'm sorry, can you elaborate?

I personally think that it seems like a good idea. The only thing that concerns me, and what I'm looking for is multiple opinions on this because I myself am not sure, is that the fair trade organization creates a minimum price level. The argument is that this artificial price level, since not set by market forces, can mess with the market. If that price level is too high, those fair trade producers will overproduce and increase the supply above natural levels. Then, it can hurt producers who are not in the fair trade system.

Also, I'm not arguing for a ban on groups like this, just trying to decide for myself as a consumer if these are products I would want to buy and ultimately an organization I would support.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[yongrel]

Whats your opinion on buying fair trade goods?

My first opinion would be that your username evokes memories of a certain Grand Wizard of the KKK.

 

[DavyDuke17]

My first opinion would be that your username evokes memories of a certain Grand Wizard of the KKK.

Wow, I googled it and I never knew the nickname my sister gave me since I was 5 had racist overtones! I'll have to sit her down and have a talk.

Do you have a second opinion on the original topic?

 

[DavyDuke17]

bump, looking for more opinions.

 

[LittleLightShining]

When it comes to coffee and chocolate I'm a Fair Trade gal. Usually the farmers supplying these goods are doing so in an environmentally sustainable way and I support that whenever I can. These are also usually native people who don't have the same access to markets that larger farms with more political clout have.

I don't really think that purchasing Fair Trade goods have any impact on artificially inflating prices. There is only a certain percentage of consumers who are willing to pay a premium price for a superior product. Fair Trade coffee has no effect on the market for Chock Full o' Nuts or Folgers.

 

[The One]

Wow, I googled it and I never knew the nickname my sister gave me since I was 5 had racist overtones! I'll have to sit her down and have a talk.

Do you have a second opinion on the original topic?

Seriously? You've never had anyone mention that name to you?

 

[Cowlesy]

I have to say I am indifferent as to what is fair or unfair, I just go by what I want to buy. I can't recollect at any point the fact something was a "fair trade" good changing my preference.

 

[dannno]

Hmmmm, that's a tough one. I'm definetely down with "shade-grown" coffee

It's usually fair-trade from what I've seen out there.

As long as it is not the government doing this stuff, it's still free-market.

 

[DavyDuke17]

Thanks LittleLightShining, do people know of any organizations like ClimateCounts, but that grade a larger number of corporations and do a better job?

The One, no I don't think anyone has and if they referenced him it went over my head. We only share a first name and looking at his wikipedia bio when he took office I was 1 years old and 4 when he left.

 

[LittleLightShining]

Thanks LittleLightShining, do people know of any organizations like ClimateCounts, but that grade a larger number of corporations and do a better job?

I'm still not buying into the whole guilt-laden climate change propaganda. Sustainable, organic agriculture and the ability for farmers to make a decent income by practicing it is enough for me. I have no interest in helping corporations reduce their carbon footprint. It's just more marketing to sell crap by playing on people's emotions and guilt for being such disgusting overconsumers.