BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China

Subject: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: Peace
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 07:40 PM

Are we bloody fools? First, we (North Americans) undercut our own products and workers,

THEN we keep importing SHIT from China that poisons us. Is there someting wrong with this or is it just me?

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Mar 09 - 11:04 PM

Right. I don't think we should import ANYTHING from ANY country that does not have reliable standards within its own borders. China has poisoned hundreds - thousands? - of its own babies.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 11:01 AM

What do you mean 'we' import things from China? I don't import anything from anywhere, and I doubt if you do either.

I'm just a worker bee. I do what I can and I try to take care of those I love. When I can, I offer charity to those further removed.

Yes, the problems are serious, but don't give me this 'we' stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 11:05 AM

leenia, the point has been made that it is difficult for anyone in the US (and Canada?) to avoid items and ingredients made in China. If that is so - and it is - then "we" indeed are importing things from China.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 11:14 AM

China's exports dropped by 25% between December and January. They are having worker riots. Their one child policy has resulted in a severe shortage of marriageable women - so severe that girls are being kidnapped and sold to be raised as brides for a family's son.
None of this is good for the rest of the world.

Labor in China is cheap. And Americans (North Americans) scream when prices go up based on the cost of labor. Who here is willing to pay twice as much for a computer or toys or ...

How many of you shop for the cheap stuff at Walmart while your local hardware store, grocery and bakery close? You have to be willing to pay for quality.

And has anyone noticed the peanut butter problem here in the states? Our own FDA is a farce.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 04:36 PM

If people don't buy the products, then companies will not import the products. Go look in your house and see how many Chinese products you have. Then come back and give me the angry lecture on 'we'. I should have said '. . . everyone but leeneia".

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: MarkS
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 04:36 PM

Don't like Chinese goods then stop buying them. If it says "Made in China", pass it by.
The imports will stop soon enough.
Mark

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: robomatic
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 04:42 PM

The story of the world economy is the story of access to cheap labor. The American people have voted with their cash for years to purchase items that are a dollar cheaper here, a quarter cheaper there, and the Chinese have been a source of 'adequate' goods at cheaper prices for decades now. For every drywall story there are a hundred Walmarts which are full of tens of thousands of garments, household goods, textiles, furnishings, etc. etc. from China.

The Chinese have the same manufacturers of ethical malleability as do we. Don't forget the Peanut Corporation of America which has some blood on its hands right now.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 04:42 PM

Too true.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 05:43 PM

"manufacturers of ethical malleability"

Just wanted to see that again. Great phrase.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 06:10 PM

It is difficult, if not impossible, to entirely avoid "made in China". What odds that shirt that says "made in Bangladesh" doesn't have buttons or a zipper from China?...and it won't say so anywhere. If you start to poke around that "assembled in USA" computer, you are likely to find boards, connections and fans that come from China...but bring your magnifying glass to see where it says so. The same is true if it is "made in Japan". Personally, if I really need something, I'll look for choices. If my only option is "made in China", than I hold my nose and buy it.

A trade embargo against Chinese goods? Impractical and totally impossible to enforce.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 06:13 PM

The ONLY answer if for people to make a conscious effort to stop buying China-made goods, imo. And to inform retail managers WHY they will not buy those goods.

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: robomatic
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 08:14 PM

Frankly I think it's a case of using our nefarious secret service agencies for a new task for a new age - one we can all get behind:

Let's send the CIA out to: UNIONIZE the CHINESE

Subject: RE: BS: The Great (Dry) Wall of China
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Mar 09 - 08:17 PM

See the recent thread on Chinese computers for a long, informative post I wrote there.

~Susan