<p>Prompt: When we go shopping, most of us do not think about the impact our spending has on other people. However, if we buy products from companies or individuals that mistreat their employees or the environment, or that otherwise do harm, we indirectly approve or even encourage such behavior. On the other hand, it may be unrealistic to assume that anything would prevent people from buying a good product at the right price.</p>
<p>Do consumers have a responsibility to purchase goods only from companies and people whose actions are beneficial to others?</p>
<p>Essay:</p>
<p>Business practices in today's world widely vary, and while financially comfortable Americans may feel quite distant from unsavory work conditions, they still do exist, even in North America. Some consumers choose to only purchase goods "made in the USA" or refuse to shop in stores known for treating their employees poorly (Walmart, for instance, comes to mind). Many more, however, are constrained by their finances; Everyone wants to support companies that provide their workers with ample pay and benefits, but at what cost? If someone can buy a particular good, say a shirt, for $6 at one store, are they willing to be $3 more for one that is guaranteed to have been made by someone given a livable wage and decent working conditions?</p>
<p>The issue of spending and workers' conditions ultimately comes down to money. It is easy for the wealthy to argue that it is immoral to support a company that treats its employees poorly. That said, it is often very well-off people running these companies, a sad irony leaving disgruntled, mistreated workers with little hope of improving their situation. For a majority of the American population, getting a good deal trumps the emotional satisfaction of supporting a "fair-trade" or similar company.</p>
<p>Another important idea to consider is that regulations concerning work environments and pay, as well as the labeling of goods, are difficult to understand. For instance, an item can be misleadingly labeled as "designed in the USA", while its manufacture is actually outsourced to a developing country where pay is minimal. Companies may market themselves as thoroughly American or European, but even very high-end lines, like Lacoste, make the vast majority of their items outside the Western world.</p>
<p>Whether consumers have a responsibility to support businesses with admirable relations with their employees ultimately comes down to a need for a serious overhaul of manufacturing practices around the world. Of course, every worker deserves a respectable income and working conditions, but until consumers take a stand and demand change, little will improve.</p>