Re: Davos Question - Purchasing Power - Product Labels

As citizens of democratic nations we exercise a power to vote but don't have enough information to exercise our purchasing power responsibly. I'm asking the WEF to create standard product labels that will list the social and environmental impacts of products.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Davos
• news
• political
• commercial
• WEF
• World
• Economic
• Forum

[aldawg114]

see, although I like your idea, I don't think it's the 'best' [no offense] and how do you propose that this serves as a 'foundation'?

[stejones]

No offense taken. This serves as a foundation because it provides the types of information that would be required for more dramatic actions like regulations and taxes.

[aldawg114]

Nice idea, but again, another idea I've seen that is [likely] impossible. I just don't see how you can eliminate the concept of people feeling the necesity to purchase the cheapest products; whether or not they meet 'economic standards'

[stejones]

That is partly true but let's at least give people a chance. I try to purchase responsibly whenever I have the chance, even when it costs me more and I know I would make more responsible decisions if given more information.

[aldawg114]

Giving them a chance would maybe prove benficial, but why don't we just implement every idea that sounds [relatively] decent? I'm not putting this idea down by any means, but if you can understand where I'm coming from, people have very good ideas, and we can't take the time to implement them all. I guess what I'm asking is.. What makes YOUR idea better than anyone elses?

[stejones]

There are a lot of great ideas. I think that mine could serve as a foundation for many related changes and that is why I would vote for this idea.

[TOILETLOG]

you need some group of people at some stupid conference to label products so you can determine if you should buy or not?

sounds like you need the government to place a sensor in your body to tell you when to think.

how about if we just outlaw mean people and pollution? then, we can track down the pots of gold found at the end of all rainbows and give that to the developing world so we can live happily ever after.

[thebigbalance]

"Step up to the challenge as consumers", since when did people stand up to a challenge anywhere, especially in the first world?

People don't even bother voting you wanker, spend less time fantasizing.

[UBCLTScom]

awesome idea. Are you reading that?

[gizmosells]

Aid is spent by curropt elite to buy mercades, and villas in poor african nations. Aid is useless, knowledge and techincal knowhow is what needed. Transfer of certian technology to poor countries is more useful than throwing money at the problem.

[georgituber]

yea yea

I will "buy" democracy in WalMart. Cmon man!

Beg your masters to make better capitalism trough more consumerism.

You are insane. The whole initiative "beg the world master" is just insane and is just promoting neoliberal capitalism, thus legitimizing misery and violence.

[jamisojo]

Your idea about purchasing power is very strong. I believe the world IS made a better place everyday by our purchasing decisions.

With or without your plan.

Bottom line, we get value constantly from our everyday decisions. I'd argue that spending more money on regulation and bureaucracy provides a product we already receive , and it is sure to be applied inefficiently and unequally.

[ShrinerMcbitey]

Good idea.

[aldawg114]

Although I enjoy debating here, I'm going to take a break from Youtube, I've deff done enough debating tonight and I'm starting to get a headache :P Very good points made here.. and although I have nothing to 'counter' your statement, i'm sure it will come in time :p