Mike Petro wrote:

> I am talking about being able to trust that the brand is authentic and
> the product is, in substance, what it is claimed to be. In other words
> that if I buy Kraft Macaroni and cheese I don't expect to get Acme
> brand macaroni and cheese or maybe even rice and cheese. I am not
> talking about some silly marketing jingle or exaggerated claims but
> blatant lying. Taking a product made by factory X and putting a forged
> factory Y label on it. Or saying it is macaroni when really it is
> rice. I have traveled in 14 different countries and this behavior is
> clearly wrong in any culture I have ever seen. I have conversed with
> many Chinese businessmen and they readily agree it is wrong and that
> it is a major problem in China right now.

Right; I understand, Mike. But please realize that what you
dismiss as mere "exaggerated claims" may very well constitute
"blatant lying" to others, and that what you consider "clearly
wrong" may very well be dismissed as mere "exaggerated claims" by
Chinese vendors.

That's all I'm addressing he the relativity of personal,
cultural, national, and international standards of ethics, which
can therefore never be adequately legislated or enforced. In
fact, many U.S. business people with whom I've conversed readily
agree that it's never been easier to confuse and trick (if not
outright defraud) the American consumer-citizen than it is today,
primarily because of the public's misplaced trust in governmental
regulations and the resulting lack of experiential awareness and
acumen (what we used to call "street smarts").

> Yes, marketing BS frustrates me just as much as the next guy. However,
> it is a very different set of ethics that says it is OK to flat out
> lie about the very ingredients and even the manufacturers name. It is
> a very different set of ethics that says it is OK to blatantly copy,
> down to the smallest detail including the logo, any product at will
> and then sell it as if it were real. That is something you should be
> able to "trust" in any culture.

Perhaps, but trustworthy product labels don't exist in any
culture or country, regardless of our wishes to the contrary. So
why not just hone and trust your own instincts instead of trying
to rely on essentially meaningless pieces of paper and
financially motivated verbal claims? I bet you'd get cheated
less often....

By the way, after tomorrow I won't be able to read Usenet news
because I'll be without net access, so if you don't hear from me
again, don't take it personally. :-)