Excuses Given by Nike to Justify Third World Exploitation

The list for June 27, 1997
The Top 16 Excuses Given by Nike to
Justify Third World Exploitation

  1. It’s not slave labor. It’s… it’s… T’ai Chi class!

  2. You think we’re ripping THEM off?? YOU paid $200 for that molded rubber you’re wearing.

  3. 14 cents an hour buys *twice* as much in Southeast Asia than it does in the U.S.

  4. We’d pay ’em more if they had a decent fadeaway jumper.

  5. Relax! We only require 20 hours a week from the terminally ill or malnourished.

  6. A nation of 5-year olds who not only can tie a shoe, but can MAKE a shoe? That’s not exploitation, pal, that’s progress!

  7. If we paid our workers a living wage, Michael couldn’t support his golf gambling habit.

  8. Hey, do you know how many bathroom breaks a 9-year old worker takes?? *We’re* the ones being exploited!

  9. Too busy counting our money to notice.

  10. CEO Phil Knight still owes Bill Gates a few billion from last year’s poker game.

  11. Interior decor of company jet was *embarrassingly* passé.

  12. Hey, Reebok gets *their* shoe leather from baby seals!

  13. Complaints about LOW PAY? We thought it was Lo Pei, the supervisor!

  14. Average hourly wage for young workers much higher if you include Tiger Woods.

  15. Our CEO keeps downsizing his conscience.
And the Number 1 Excuse Given by Nike to Justify Third World Exploitation…

  1. Just Screw ‘Em!
.
CREDITS
Selected from 120 submissions from 42 contributors.
Today’s list authors were:

  • Ed Smith, Chattanooga, TN — 1 (5th #1)
  • Hank Weilevy, Fairless Hills, PA — 1 (2nd #1)
  • Doug Johnson, Santa Cruz, CA — 2
  • Rob Winchell, Arlington, MA — 3, 5
  • Craig Stacey, Lisle, IL — 3
  • Paul Schindler, Orinda, CA — 4
  • Lev L. Spiro, Los Angeles, CA — 6
  • Steve Hurd, San Ramon, CA — 7
  • Greg Sadosuk, Fairfax, VA — 8
  • David W. James, Los Angeles, CA — 9
  • Ed Brooksbank, Sacramento, CA — 10
  • David Hyatt, New York, NY — 11
  • Bo Williams, Huntsville, AL — 12, 14
  • Gene/Cynthia Markins-Dieden, New Haven, CT — 13
  • John Voigt, Chicago, IL — 15
  • Peg Warner, Derry, NH — 16
  • Rob Wells, Paris, France — Topic
  • Trent Reznor, Cleveland, OH — Ambience
  • Chris White, New York, NY — List owner/editor
T5062797

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