banana 99c a kilo , page-11

So you want to hit the local farmer while he is down eh?

I am wondering how long it take before Australia wakes up to the current state of Globalisation. I mean free trade agreements really only end up spreading the wealth around the world. As people want to get ahead in life they want to spend less on more, all the while demanding higher wages, just to keep up with the Jones'. In the free trade case, they start pricing themselves out of the market with these higher wages, the CEO who want to fatten up their bonuses, then export the employees job.

SO these early casualties complain about losing their job overseas, but it falls on deaf ears. Others don't care, "I'll be right Jack". So with these "expensive" jobs exported overseas, there are less $$$ in the economy, which equates less to spend, which means more businesses struggling. CEO's check the bottom line and whooolllah!, they can save $$$ by moving the jobs offshore! This continues to go around in a cycle, until they are competitive with the rest of the world. This is when you will realise that you won't be right Jack.

You take China for example. The USA HAD a great manufactoring industry before they priced themselves out of the market by importing cheap products that were made by employees with no conditions on extremely low wages. The CEO's of their multinationals realised the cost advantage of employees in China, the rest is history, the USA has a terrible manufactoring sector and China is moving up in the world.

Take a long hard look at where the USA were, in the world scheme of things, now take a look which way they are going. If you don't think Australia is next, you have another thing coming. We have lost many great Australian brand names such as Bonds over the years who have had to shift jobs offshore, Gina Rinehart was quoted recently asking to get Fly in Fly Out workers from offshore. Big multinationals will do anything to fly in cheap labour and replace another Australian job.

Remember, if you don't think this affects you, then you are crazy. Those people who lose their jobs, don't have the ability to spend money at the local store, cafe or any other Australian business that supports your job. You won't be trying to keep up with the Jones', you will be trying to stay ahead of China, Indonesia, Thailand.

Do you think you are immune to this, I bet the Qantas engineers and pilots thought they were, now they are running a campaign to keep their jobs.

Can I help? Can WE fix this this problem?

You sure can, it is about supporting Australian industries and jobs. You may have to pay a premium such as $14/kilo for bananas, but that is the price you have to pay to live in an economy that has an average wage of $60k a year. If you are not willing to pay this price, then the average Australian wage will be going down towards $35k, until the rest of the world catches up.

Think about it. Either the good times are over in Australia, or buy Australian.