this post was submitted on 30 Jan 2024
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Seems like costco used products from this Hickman's Family Farm which used prison labor
I’ll try to ween off of Costco now. Thank you internet exposing all the things we are oblivious to.
Costco isn't the problem, they are a symptom, and there is no ethical consumption under capitalism. Whatever alternative you choose will either have similar practices or be owned by the same/similar people.
The problem is capitalism, and specifically in this case also the white supremacy that supports it.
Aim to ween yourself, and everyone around you, off those (this is not to imply you are a capitalist or white supremacist, but we all exist under those systems, and others, and there is no escaping their impact - you are either oppressed by them or benefit from others being oppressed by them even if not directly or even willingly). Combat the system, not its symptoms, that battle is futile, which is why those in charge want you to keep fighting it so much.
yeah exactly the point of my posting this isnt to say people should boycott but they are free to choose to do so but rather that this is a symptom of capitalism and i thought people might find this interesting. capitalism requires exploitation at almost every level to sustain itself. sharing this article around is a great first start, maybe contact representatives. im not american but ive consumed a lot of stuff from some of these brands that are more global, some im already avoiding because of their stance on palestine but boycott is only one tool in our arsenal. The root problem in this and so many things is capitalism
Yeah, it's a good share, and of course I'm not encouraging people to shop at these places, just pointing out that the alternative won't be much better..
I'm not American either, but as you say, the problem is global and local to each country (in different ways, sure, but even in the UK many prisons are now run for profit, so things might not be on the same scale, or as explicit as in the US, but there are similar problems in different variations everywhere you look) which is why representatives within the existing system aren't going to get any significant change either. The whole system is designed to withstand "reform", which is why it needs abolishing, and you can't do that playing by the rules they set, you have to be willing to unlearn a lot and build networks of solidarity and mutual aid and resistance, create alternatives within the local and global community that they can't profit from or control, then go after about 2000 people that are holding the rest of the world hostage, and end this shit.