Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site watmath.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!idallen From: idallen@watmath.UUCP Newsgroups: can.politics Subject: Re: Buy Local. Message-ID: <16149@watmath.UUCP> Date: Sun, 11-Aug-85 13:30:39 EDT Article-I.D.: watmath.16149 Posted: Sun Aug 11 13:30:39 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Aug-85 02:28:02 EDT References: <5770@utzoo.UUCP>, <16066@watmath.UUCP> <5864@utzoo.UUCP> Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario Lines: 25 My point is that by not "paying extra" to support the local industry, you weaken your clout if the major market for the "global" industry doesn't include you. (I imagine most US-based companies operating in Canada are of this type.) If the global industry does something you don't like, or doesn't do something you do like, you and your friends aren't in as strong a position to influence it as you would be if you and your friends *were* the major market. Is that worth paying extra for? A global industry can suddenly decide your little corner of the world or your peculiar needs are no longer profitable, and pull out. You'll be without that industry until something local gets organized to fill the gap. A local industry isn't quite as free to ignore you. Also, if the goods and services you buy are tailored to the global mass market, you might not be able to get the variations suitable for your locale. I like to encourage others to help me support local industry, and this usually means "paying extra", if for no other reason than it goes against economy of scale. Buying locally doesn't mean "buy Canadian"; it means support the people who are interested in supplying *me* and who listen to *me*, not the people to whom my purchases appear as something insignificant. I want to maintain a balance of power between me, as a market, and them, as suppliers. I don't want to be dictated to. If I depend on them, let them depend on me. -- -IAN! (Ian! D. Allen) University of Waterloo