American Money Buys Foreign Sweatshops

* Re “A Sweatshop Is Better Than Nothing,” Commentary, April 25: Daniel Jacobs claims to see labor exploitation “through the eyes of those my money will benefit” rather than through the moral standards held by the “eyes of America.” He is right and wrong. They are all the same eyes.

Actually, Jacobs’ desire is very consistent with both “the Western ideal of universal human rights” and American morality. It represents the latest manifestation of a long European and American tradition of making money by exploiting others--while calling the process charity. (Formerly called “colonialism,” this tradition is now called “development.”) Sweatshop labor will not make Third World workers’ lives better, Mr. Jacobs--it will make your life better. American investors care about bringing wealth to Third World workers the way Columbus cared about bringing Jesus to the Indians.

MARY CAROLINE CUMMINS

Riverside

*

Daniel, listen to your father; hopefully you can hear more than his concerns and begin to understand his reasons. Don’t spend the $1,000 on investments; complete your education. Grab a backpack and buy a ticket and “invest” some time and experience on a country you are willing to invest in. See the cities ringed with squalor, filled with people who were displaced by “development,” pushed off small family farms and the villages they supported by government development programs created to pay off international debt.

Find it in yourself to meet the individuals whose culture is being pushed aside as we secure cheap consumer goods. Then return and begin your life as an educated individual.

MICHAEL HALE

Los Angeles

*

Jacobs allows me to better understand why people are called sophomoric in their thinking. He seems to have totally ignored the idea that he and others could still make significant amounts of money without depending upon servitude, slavery and crippling child labor. If Nike paid 100% more--28 cents a shoe instead of 14 cents per shoe, as constructed by one of those who are so fortunate to have a job--and they continued to sell that shoe for $100, I think Jacobs could pay for his private college tuition and still make money on the stock market.

FRANCES BALCOMB

Los Angeles