Making Friends with Gepetto

Session 9:

“Do not steal.  Do not lie.  Do not deceive one another.” (Leviticus 19:11)

This week, we discussed whether or not there exists an ethical crisis in the business world today.  I believe so.  Many people lack the morals and integrity to conduct business honestly.  Instead, they are driven by greed, taking all the necessary shortcuts to maximize profits, and ignoring the consequences that follow. 

The U.S. heavily depends on foreign countries for outsourcing purposes, as labor costs are much lower overseas.  How amazing is it that it is more cost-effective for companies to have their products manufactured in foreign countries located on the other side of the world and have it all shipped to the U.S., than it would be to have those very same items manufactured domestically?  The business exchange serves to benefit both sides, as it serves as a money saving strategy for the U.S. and the foreign countries get the much needed business. 

Off-shore manufacturing plants, such as those located in China, have built quite a reputation for themselves, making it quite obvious that their business ethics highly lack morality.  China has had a long history of running manufacturing plants with non-ideal working conditions that would closely resemble a sweatshop.  The hired workers are of all ages, many of whom are not of legal working age, are set to work very long hours in exchange for very little compensation.  The lack of empathy for their own people makes me question their integrity.

One of the bigger recalls was of pet foods containing contaminants that caused renal failure, in which many cases led to death, of our beloved furry companions.  Another was the recall of Chinese manufactured toothpaste imported into the U.S. that contained poisonous substances.  Alarming, isn't it?  Their lack of regulations has brought on acts of carelessness and cost-cutting strategies that have tainted their reputation. 

A long string of recent recalls have made most Americans think twice about purchasing products made in China.  How do the Chinese go around this?  Replace the word “China” with the acronym “P.R.O.C.” that stands for People’s Republic of China, so that it reads “Made in P.R.O.C.” instead.  Clever, isn’t it?  I am certain that their strategy has fooled many into purchasing items made in China without even realizing it.  I was once among one of those fools.  I picked up a package of dried tofu sheets at the grocery store, read the “Made in P.R.O.C.” label, and had absolutely no idea where that was but threw it into the cart anyways because I figured that as long as it wasn’t made in China, it was fine.  As we stand in the long check-out line that doesn’t seem to move, my mom reads the labels of every item we’ve thrown into the cart with her reading glasses halfway down the bridge of her nose.  Of course my mom informs me of what “P.R.O.C” stood for and it got left behind at the grocery store.  We are not supporters of such unethical business practices and avoid buying food items made in China as best we can. 

It is our greed that drives to form our web of lies that eventually becomes our basis of deceit.  Overseas, we have the issue of bad business integrity.   Here we have money laundering, tax evasions, and other monetary woes.  People should realize that lying and deceit does not get one very far.  My guess is that they must not have watched Pinocchio as a kid.

“Always let your conscience be your guide!” -Gepetto