Congratulations to Nic Dominguez, a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya, for winning this week's comment contest and a $25.00 prize. Nic responded to our post on Nicholas Kristof's provocative op-ed entitled Where Sweatshops are Dreams.

The problem of labor standards is a double edged sword for development. Yes sweatshops have horrific labor conditions by U.S. standards, but business has to start somewhere. Not only do these detestable conditions give an opportunity for the poor to work but they give an opportunity for the slightly less poor to employ. These factories are making goods with tiny profit margins. These margins are the only way to stay in business. If stricter labor conditions were to be forced upon the business it would make business impossible for thousands of sweatshops. It may sound right to condemn sweatshop conditions but any work is almost always better then no work.

It's an interesting dilemma. The concept of fair trade is a growing trend, but does the small paycheck associated with having a job in a sweatshop outweigh the poor conditions associated with working in one? Are sweatshops really a bad thing?

We've also been following the discussion surrounding financial social work for Americans. Danny from Utah commented on Americans, credit card abuse and the possibility for financial social work programs in the future.

I've heard it said that to give a man a fish is to bring him demise, but to give him a fishing pole is to give him life. We've found ourselves in a world that advertises fish and never the pole. We are constantly bombarded with marketing that makes us feel inferior if we don't have the latest car or biggest house. Its no wonder that we have developed such poor behavior when it comes to spending ... Credit card companies make it so incredibly easy to obtain and spend money that we don't have, why should we subject ourselves poverty, right? Wrong. Our problem starts there... Lets keep distributing poles!

Danny, we couldn't agree with you more. Mercy Corps was founded on the idea of teaching a man to fish and our programs emphasize that philosophy. But it looks as if the days of easy credit may be gone for many Americans, and the learning curve may be steep and painful.

But, what do you think? Keep commenting for a chance to win next week!