Larry Dighera wrote:

Unfortunately, I seem to not have made myself clear at all. I'm
describing the shortcomings of pure capitalism. I'm not advocating
any particular system or remedy. I'm just interested in discovering
how those shortcomings a of capitalistic system I mentioned might be
mitigated, so that ALL benefit, producers and consumers alike. After
all, producers are victims of ever decreasing prices just as consumers
are victims of the loss of US jobs.


_All_ can never benefit. That is not how life works. Though people
have tried mightily over the years to force outcomes with legislation,
governmental fiat or physical force. It is not sustainable.. any more
than trying hold the steam inside of a tea kettle.

As it is, the producer who is able to offer a product at the lowest
prices in the marketplace, regardless of the consequences to society
and the environment as a result of the methods used to achieve that
price reduction, effectively dictates the quality and ethics for ALL
producers of that product if they want to remain solvent.

That's not true. Look at Toyota... walking all over American car
makers. Better overall quality and customer satisfaction and NOT
the lowest prices.


Free market and capitalism at every price is not always the best way to go.


I have no problem with free-market capitalism if it doesn't drive
better and more responsibly produced products from the marketplace and
export US jobs to other countries.

We've already covered all of this, its boring to repeat the reasons
why this occurs and whether it is good or not.


As you stated, in some cases
it might make sense to buy local (for different reasons: to save jobs and
generate money locally, to cut transportation, to cut down emission on
transport, ...). Some people go directly to the farmer and buy their
products off the farm at higher prices than the 'same' product would cost
in the supermarket. There are different reasons for doing so.


Yes. Recently consumers have begun so have the choice of buying the
at the lowest price, or buying the best or most responsibly produced
product. I would like to find a way to reward those producers who
want to produce quality, responsibly produced goods made with US
labor, so that impact of their reduced market share is mitigated.

"responsibly produced" ? What does that mean? WHo determines whether
something is 'responsibly produced'... Al Gore? Sheesh...

The free market is always the best arbiter.