As American’s we pride ourselves as having inherent liberty; then use this self-declared right to freedom as an excuse for irresponsible behavior. We often fail to acknowledge the rest of the worlds—or our own nation’s—natural right to liberty. Then justify our subversive behavior with a phrase like “whatever, it’s a free country.” Such a phrase would fit Eric Cartman (from South Park), but it wouldn’t be in the spirit of FDR. Whose Four Freedom’s speech had the message to preserve democracy world wide, in order to preserve democracy at home. The present attitude however reflects something closer to Rockefeller’s interpretation of FDR’s four freedoms speech. We are now focused on issues of our own personal liberty; which has developed into a disregard of how our actions affect the lives and liberty of others. An object in American culture that embodies this disregard is the “made in china” label. The made in china label is a symbol of American’s consumerism; it is a label of convenience over contribution. The demand for cheaper products and cheap labor has led to harsh and impoverished working conditions overseas and has drained our own work force. To meet the rising needs of the American consumer the earth’s natural resources have also been exploited. The living conditions of workers overseas have degraded because of the pollution from unsafe mining and manufacturing. No America wants to strip another human of their right to “freedom from want” or “freedom from fear.” Yet we do this everyday by consuming products made with that little made in china label. American’s have mistaken their freedom to consume to come with freedom from responsibility.
First of all, I love the South Park joke! And I agree about America's consumerism. It's gotten so out of hand. We don't make nearly as much in the U.S. as we used to. Also, very few people pay attention to where their goods are made, or even what the conditions are like for the workers who make the goods. It's a tough choice: Do you support people working in sweatshops because it may be the only job they can get? Or do you not support them as a personal boycott or protest to the bad conditions.
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