Voices

Please spare us

ROCKINGHAM — Some comments/questions about the interview with the owner of Cultural Intrigue:

• What kind of revenue-sharing system, if any, does Cultural Intrigue have with the local population producing the crafts? Does it pay them more than the going rate (of $1/day per worker)? In other words, what separates Cultural Intrigue's import model from the Wal-Mart one?

• What kind of environmental impact do these chemical-intensive activities, such as dying, have in the areas where production is happening?

• Does Cultural Intrigue offer living wages to its 25 U.S. employees, or does the company pay minimum wage?

• What charitable contributions has Cultural Intrigue made to the local community that has allowed the company to become so successful?

• The owner repeatedly congratulates himself for the “idea.” What exactly is this “idea”? Buy cheaply produced crafts in Thailand and sell them at a huge markup in the U.S.? Is this it?

There's nothing wrong with it, but please - spare us the smug, self-congratulatory hypocrisy.

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