I've bought my last Nike product. This really won't be much of an issue. I rarely buy sports shoes anyway and Nike isn't a big supllier of NHL gear. Even if either case was true, it wouldn't be a big deal.
The reason for my new attitude about Nike is pretty simple. you see, Nike is claiming that corporations have a right to lie to consumers about their overseas manufacturing practices, and that such lies are protected by the First Amendment.
My only response is "horse-hockey". Corporations are required to tel the truth to investors and potential investors alike, and I''m pretty sure my 401k plan owns stock in Nike and their competitors. I'm also sure that the FTC has something to say about their marketing practices, and saying that they don't use forced or child labor, or that all of their working are pristine an safe impacts their marketing.
Finally, despite a truly bizarre ruling that corporations are protected under the 14th Amendment, corporations are not citizens of the United States, and they aren't people. If they were, they would be subject to the same civil and criminal penalties as actual people. When was the last time you saw a corporation "executed" because it killed someone?
The Nike Case is now headed to the Supreme Court. Hopefully the Justices will get this one right...for a change.
Posted by Chris at April 28, 2003 10:58 AM