Who gets the risks? The risks are given to the consumer, the unsuspecting consumer and the poor work force. And who gets the benefits? The benefits are only for the corporations, for the money makers.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the disparity between risks faced by consumers and workers versus the benefits enjoyed by corporations.
Cesar Chavez's quote emphasizes the imbalance in society where the risks associated with products and labor fall disproportionately on consumers and workers, particularly vulnerable groups. In contrast, it points out that the financial gains and advantages are concentrated in the hands of corporations and those who profit from the labor and consumption of others, thereby critiquing systemic inequality and the exploitation inherent in capitalist structures.
In practice
In a speech about consumer rights during a rally, one might use this quote to highlight the need for better regulations.
I became a vegetarian after realizing that animals feel afraid, cold, hungry and unhappy like we do. I feel very deeply about vegetarianism and the animal kingdom. It was my dog Boycott who led me to question the right of humans to eat other sentient beings.
I think one of the great, great problems...is confusing people to the point where they become immobile. In fact, the more things people can find out for themselves, the more vigor the organization is going to have.
In the final analysis it doesn't really matter what the political system is...We don't need perfect political systems; we need perfect participation.
There is enough love and good will in our movement to give energy to our struggle and still have plenty left over to break down and change the climate of hate and fear around us.
Our union represents a breaking away...represents sharing a power, represent questioning, represents a new force...however long it takes, we are geared for a struggle.
Every time we sit at a table at night or in the morning to enjoy the fruits and grain and vegetables from our good earth, remember that they come from the work of men and women and children who have been exploited for generations.
Democracy must stand or fall on a platform of possible human perfectibility. If human nature cannot be improved by institutions, democracy is at best a more than usually safe form of political organization . . . . But if it is to work better as well as merely longer, it must have some leavening effect on human nature; and the sincere democrat is obliged to assume the power of the leaven. [Progressive]
Our only real hope for democracy is that we get the money out of politics entirely and establish a system of publicly funded elections.
What is interesting is that, although it is framed as a war between the elites and Main Street, the Tea Party is actually really good for the elites.
Extensive violations of human rights (torture, forced reduction of living standards for much of the population, police-sponsored death squads, destruction of representative institutions or of independent unions, etc.) are directly correlated with US government support. The linkage is not accidental; rather it is systematic. The reason is obvious enough. Client fascism often improves the business climate for American corporations, quite generally the guiding factor in foreign policy.
If the American people knew what we have done, they would string us up from the lamp posts.
Here in Minnesota, we don't only welcome immigrants; we send them to Washington.
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