Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

[Gruntina]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

Some out of country car manufacturers have built big plants in the south that employ a lot of people. Does that make them made in USA or still a foreign car? I get so confused!

I agree this is very confusing... I think I am more concern with skills and workforces being taught in American more than "American" products. I would hate to see us leave all the work in other countries that we don't grow in our work skills. Computers technologies have really streamlined so much paperwork’s and finances that it needs less headcounts to do these jobs. I just hope we are ahead of the game in business so other countries can not so easily take over if something was to happen.

I could be wrong but was thinking that if we purchase or work for something that helps our community, we would be "feeding" our resources rather than feeding the resources outside of the community and therefore depend on them.

But other countries are making it more cheaper in the financial aspect that this makes it a tough challenge.

[cschin4]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

I also go out of my way to buy stuff at Walmart. I think all the Walmart bashing is ridiculous.

[disneysteve]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

I think all the Walmart bashing is ridiculous.

I agree with you. I think Wal-Mart does the same things that dozens of other businesses do. We just hear about it more because Wal-Mart is so big.

[lrjohnson]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

I think Wal-Mart does the same things that dozens of other businesses do. We just hear about it more because Wal-Mart is so big.

Just an aside, some folks who choose to never go to Walmart also avoid other big chains.

I am trying to expand using my wallet as a method of social change. It's one thing I'm thinking of spending more on post challenge. I'd like to look more at who makes my clothes. Buying used helps, but I'd like to buy to buy my new with an eye to making sure the people who made the clothes got a decent wage with decent working conditions. I don't know yet who those manufacturers would be.

I do specifically choose to not go to certain stores for certain reasons; either joining a boycott or my own mini-boycott. Lots of us on SA have very different views; no real need for me to say why, or what businesses, just saying I do try to align spending with belief.

[shengmei]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

I try to enjoy my material possessions. I only buy products that I can be proud of if I was seen with them. I would not buy something I would be ashamed of if I was found out. I would never buy something that is counterfeited or made with slave labor. For example, I hate those fake designer bags manufactured in China. Every week a Chinese worker dies from exhaustion manufacturing those bags.

Strangely enough though, even though I am an avid environmentalist, I would never buy something that claims to be GMO-free. As a plant geneticist, I actually wholeheartedly believe that GMOs are the more ethical choice.

[getforfree]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

On some beauty products, they write "not tested on animals" . Then who they test it on before leting the people use it? I would rather have some animal die, than a person loosing their hair from nontested shampoo. IMO, people come first, than animals. I just can't stand it when pets are treated better than people. I love animals, but people come first.

[tinapbeana]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

On some beauty products, they write "not tested on animals" . Then who they test it on before leting the people use it? I would rather have some animal die, than a person loosing their hair from nontested shampoo. IMO, people come first, than animals. I just can't stand it when pets are treated better than people. I love animals, but people come first.

well, the ideal is that a gentle cosmetic, shampoo, soap, etc is made with ingredients that are already known to not be harmful to people. therefore, there should be no need to test the completed product on an animal (or anyone else) to see if it's harmful.

testing at that point becomes about the 'look and feel' of a product: does it lather well, how does it feel when you put it on, how does it smell, does your skin feel tight afterwards, yadda yadda yadda. in this case, i trust a human product tester more than a bunny or chimp.

and as a side note, there are ingredients like some essential oils that aren't harmful to humans but can have serious effects in certain animals. why prevent a product from going to market because a cat can't wear it when the people it's intended for can?

[cschin4]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

It seems like we have turned everything we do into some "statement". People are evaluated and judged based on the car they drive, what they eat, what they wear, etc, etc. I know this has gone on since the beginning of time. But, I am not any less "moral" sitting and eating a hamburger than someone is eating tofu and a salad. I think we have gone overboard.

[tinapbeana]

Re: Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

But, I am not any less "moral" sitting and eating a hamburger than someone is eating tofu and a salad.

i wasn't aware someone had said you were....

while i do try to act/spend in accordance with my beliefs, i don't really talk about it unless specifically asked (as was the case with this thread).

it's no different than my inlaws (FIL is a preacher) who don't buy lottery tickets, alcohol, or play bingo b/c it goes against their beliefs. he'll speak to it if asked, but the actions are taken because he believes in them, not so other folks will think differently of him.

just because my beliefs are different than his (i like lotto!), i respect his right to uphold his beliefs and i would expect the same from him (within of course moral and legal reason).