Re: GPL vs. sweatshops (was Re: Bias)

At 01:49 PM 6/7/2002 -0700, Matt Seitz wrote:
>"Deven T. Corzine" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
> > However, if
> > computers continue to require skilled labor, which can no longer earn a
> > decent living because of the GPL, then I'll have a reason to be upset, 
> just
> > like factory workers have reason to be upset about imports from countries
> > where the workers are so poorly paid that they're virtually slave labor...
>
>The comparison of the GPL to underpaid foreign workers is a false analogy.
>Wtih underpaid workers, the workers work for low pay because they have no
>better choice.  With GPL projects, the workers are volunteers.  I don't think
>I'd want a society that says I can't do volunteer work because it might
>endanger a company's profits.
>
>Yes, I do believe that the profit incentive is important and beneficial.  But
>it is not so sacred that we must ban anything and everything that threatens a
>company's profits.
>
>I'm of two minds on the issue of cheap imports and protectionism.  On the one
>had, allowing cheaper imports can benefit domestic consumers and foreign
>workers, while forcing domestic producers to be more competitive.  For 
>example,
>think how Japanese imports forced American car manufacturers to improve.  On
>the other hand, as you point out, cheap imports can result in poverty both
>abroad (from bad foreign labor laws) and here (from lost jobs).
>
>I think we have to look at why a competitor is cheaper.  Is it because of
>exploitive, damaging, antisocial acts (slave labor, poor safety, etc.) or
>because they have found a better way to do things, or because they are willing
>to make more sacrifices than others in order to be successful?  There is
>sometimes a fine line between protecting the public and protecting a 
>particular
>business.
>
>
>=====
>Sincerely,
>Matt Seitz


The question is indeed "why is a competitor cheaper." I am running a
small but growing business that employs most of our programmers
in Mexico. We have definite competitive advantages over programmers
in most overdeveloped urban areas of the USA.

I ask you, "When was the last time you saw a freeway clogged with
trafic write any code?,or a 50,000 dollar car, or a $500,000 house, or
a $5,000,000 building?" We are focused on writing code, living inexpensively
but well, at the beach in Baja California. I think it inevitable that this kind
of competition will put serious pressure on those who ignore it. I think
that is good and fair.