Skip to main contentIs this article ["NikeLeaks," WW, Dec. 14, 2011] trying to elicit empathy for Nike? At a time when Occupy movements are making efforts to educate people about income disparities, I'm offended WW would even print this article.
To note: Nike executives are billionaires, millionaires, and otherwise six-figure income earners. Nike spends millions of dollars each year to stop counterfeiting—why not move the jobs back to the U.S.? Overseas workers earn around $62 per month—in the U.S., that gives them the right to strike and organize with unions. There are child-labor accusations against Nike—hard to monitor from thousands of miles away. Sweatshop complaints rarely make the news these days—because we are apathetic and just want the merchandise.
One current U.S. cultural anomaly is that we are duped into caring that a horribly unethical corporation such as Nike isn't making as much money as it could. I offer that we buy used or U.S.-made shoes until Nike moves everything back here.
—"Rob"
This is an interesting read, but I take particular issue with the framing of the corruption in Vietnam. While the allegation of corruption might be accurate, it fails to account for a more simple answer. I wouldn't be surprised if people counterfeiting in a developing nation were simply a much more sympathetic cause to officials than a multinational company that pays average monthly wages that are less than the retail prices of many of the shoes.
—"Reid Parham"
Politics and Business
All this proves is that Rob [Cornilles] really is a qualified businessman ["It's All in the Game," WW, Dec. 14, 2011]. Anyone who has been an entrepreneur for many years will suffer setbacks, hire employees and probably have to downsize at some point. They'll be flush some years and have trouble making all the payments in other years. They'll also have a complaint from someone at some point, too.... It appears that Rob has always tried to remedy the situations as they arise. That's what it means to be in business. Everything here seems perfectly normal. Small-business owners are big risk-takers.... His opponent has been safely tucked away in legal/regulatory/government work. America needs more Rob Cornilles types and fewer Suzanne Bonamici types if it wants to prosper.
—"Matt"
So far I fail to understand what having owned a business has to do with being an effective legislator. The skills aren't necessarily transferable. Having run a business is not an experience that qualifies [Cornilles] to be in Congress, regardless of how successful it is.
—"virgil flywater"
One can get the impression Cornilles is either a hapless oddball, a serial liar or something equally disturbing in between.
—"Phil Decker"
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