Could the Chinese Become Worse Than The Nazis?

[Warren Dew]

Or, we could simply erect trade barriers and stop buying their cheap, poisonous crap, which would deal them a far harsher blow.

Poisonous? If you're referring to the lead in toys thing, it turns out that the actual percentage of American made toys with lead in them was higher. Naturally the press ignored that, though - wouldn't do to criticize products produced by unionized American labor so inefficient its output costs ten times what it should.

The truth is, international trade is mutually beneficial. Trade barriers would be cutting off our noses to spite our own faces.

[Gawd]

Hey Seth, do you know what people think when they see "Made in America"? They see crap. Nobody buys stuff with that label on it because they know it's overpriced and low quality. Just look at all those American cars......

[JimC]

The Chinese are pretty damn rich since they own America now and have a virtual monopoly on mass production. Why would they become Nazis? They aren't even white.

Possession is 9/10ths of the law and 100% of the laws of armed conflict. If the Chinese get intolerably belligerent and the US goes to war, then instead of owning real debt, they'll own pieces of paper.

From Wiki, "According to a June 30, 2009 survey, the U.S. Treasury owed China $757 billion in long-term debt"

That, along with the inability to sell stuff to the US in case of war will probably keep things stable for a while.

That's always been my response to attempts to damage our economy by our debt-holders: "Fuck you, assholes, we're not paying, so pound sand."

Which, of course, is pretty much what most of Europe said to the US regarding the debts they owe us for pulling their asses out of the maw of the Nazis and Japanese.

Well, we are in an economic competition with the Chinese, so some playing dirty might happen and I wouldn't want the US to have a reputation for defaulting. But as soon as it comes to guns, I say we keep the 757 Billion and reopen some of our own factories.

Or, we could simply erect trade barriers and stop buying their cheap, poisonous crap, which would deal them a far harsher blow.

Hmmmm, war with China might not be that bad for us...

I say we let them go to war with Russia first, over the oil in Mongolia and Siberia. Let the Russians attrit them a bit first. Sit back a while and then ride to the rescue of Russia.

You've been reading Tom Clancy again, haven't you...

(not a bad book, mind you...)

On the OP, there has to be an equivalent for the Jews...

Tibetans...

All the muslim peoples in western china...

Japanese...

Plenty of choice, actually...

[JimC]

Hey Seth, do you know what people think when they see "Made in America"? They see crap. Nobody buys stuff with that label on it because they know it's overpriced and low quality. Just look at all those American cars......

(except maybe the new Jeep...)

[Atheist-Lite]

Hey Seth, do you know what people think when they see "Made in America"? They see crap. Nobody buys stuff with that label on it because they know it's overpriced and low quality. Just look at all those American cars......

(except maybe the new Jeep...)

I can't recall when I last saw anything 'Made in America' that was real.

[pErvinalia]

The Chinese are pretty damn rich since they own America now...

I thought the Joos owned America?

[Coito ergo sum]

The Chinese are pretty damn rich since they own America now...

I thought the Joos owned America?

Nah! You're both wrong. Fox News owns it.

[Warren Dew]

Hey Seth, do you know what people think when they see "Made in America"? They see crap. Nobody buys stuff with that label on it because they know it's overpriced and low quality. Just look at all those American cars......

To be fair, my wife's Honda Odyssey, which is the top rated minivan, is made in Alabama. Nonunionized U.S. labor can do a pretty good job when making things where people are willing to pay a price for quality.

The Chinese generally compete in markets where the consumer simply isn't willing to pay the price that would be required with American labor. Clothing is a good example: use American garment workers and you might as well buy tailor made clothes. Very few Americans are willing to pay those prices for clothes.

[Atheist-Lite]

Hey Seth, do you know what people think when they see "Made in America"? They see crap. Nobody buys stuff with that label on it because they know it's overpriced and low quality. Just look at all those American cars......

To be fair, my wife's Honda Odyssey, which is the top rated minivan, is made in Alabama. Nonunionized U.S. labor can do a pretty good job when making things where people are willing to pay a price for quality.

The Chinese generally compete in markets where the consumer simply isn't willing to pay the price that would be required with American labor. Clothing is a good example: use American garment workers and you might as well buy tailor made clothes. Very few Americans are willing to pay those prices for clothes.

You can't compete with the chinese slave labor force in a ethical manner.

[Warren Dew]

You can't compete with the chinese slave labor force in a ethical manner.

You should visit China some time. The labor force is in many ways freer than the U.S. labor force. China just happens to have less money per person.

[Atheist-Lite]

You can't compete with the chinese slave labor force in a ethical manner.

You should visit China some time. The labor force is in many ways freer than the U.S. labor force. China just happens to have less money per person.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/16/world ... china.html

[Coito ergo sum]

Hey Seth, do you know what people think when they see "Made in America"? They see crap. Nobody buys stuff with that label on it because they know it's overpriced and low quality. Just look at all those American cars......

To be fair, my wife's Honda Odyssey, which is the top rated minivan, is made in Alabama. Nonunionized U.S. labor can do a pretty good job when making things where people are willing to pay a price for quality.

To be even more fair, the idea that Ford, GM and Chrysler make inferior vehicles to Toyota and Honda hasn't been true for probably 2 decades, and certainly is not true today.

The Chinese generally compete in markets where the consumer simply isn't willing to pay the price that would be required with American labor. Clothing is a good example: use American garment workers and you might as well buy tailor made clothes. Very few Americans are willing to pay those prices for clothes.

That, and the Chinese just basically shoot the tired ones and replace them with fresh "workers."

(always kinda hated that word "worker" - like a pet peeve of mine.... "worker" -- that's your role - you're a "worker" - smacks of being a drone or a thrall.... some are "workers" some aren't. Even when I did labor intensive jobs years ago, I preferred to think of myself as an "employee" or an "independent contractor.")

[Warren Dew]

To be even more fair, the idea that Ford, GM and Chrysler make inferior vehicles to Toyota and Honda hasn't been true for probably 2 decades, and certainly is not true today.

For today's situation, I think it would be more accurate to say that Ford has basically caught up with Honda, while Toyota has dropped back to GM & Chrysler levels.

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/Qu ... age-anchor

That, and the Chinese just basically shoot the tired ones and replace them with fresh "workers."

Actually China currently treats its retirees extremely well, with the state typically providing food, apartments, etc. Granted they can afford to do that because China's demographics are different from ours - their large generation was born in the 1960s and won't be retiring for another decade or two.

[Coito ergo sum]

That, and the Chinese just basically shoot the tired ones and replace them with fresh "workers."

Actually China currently treats its retirees extremely well, with the state typically providing food, apartments, etc. Granted they can afford to do that because China's demographics are different from ours - their large generation was born in the 1960s and won't be retiring for another decade or two.

I know people who have worked in China. Whatever the typical "worker" gets from the gubmint ain't even close to what an American would consider "well," let alone "extremely" well.

[Robert_S]

Hey Seth, do you know what people think when they see "Made in America"? They see crap. Nobody buys stuff with that label on it because they know it's overpriced and low quality. Just look at all those American cars......

(except maybe the new Jeep...)

I can't recall when I last saw anything 'Made in America' that was real.

My Honda was made in the USA.